FT MEADE 
GenCol 1 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 


Chap. Copyright No. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 


























































































































































FROM 

ERROR’S CHAINS; 


OR THE 


STORY OF THE RELIGIOUS STRUGGLES 


OF AN 


ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG LADY. 


BY 

/ 

L. S. FOSTER, 
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. 




“IF THIS COUNSEL OR THIS WORK BE OF MEN, IT WILL 
COME TO NOUGHT: BUT IF IT BE OF GOD, YE CANNOT OVER- 
THROW IT; LEST HAPLY YE BE FOUND EVEN TO FIGHT 
AGAINST GOD.”— Acts 5: 38. 3<). 



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COPYRIGHT 1899. 

BY MATTIE A. FOSTER. 
All Rights Reserved. 


ELKCTKOTYPED BY 
AMERICAN. 

TYPE FOUNDERS’ COMPANY, 
R. ADDISON, MANAGER, 
CINCINNATI, OHIO. 


DEDICATIOX. 


TO THE HONOR AND GLORY OF OUR 
LORD JESUS CHRIST, 


FOR THE UNSPEAKABLE BLESSINGS OF HIS GRACE AND 
TRUTH, WHICH HAVE BEEN REVEALED TO ME IN 

i 

CREATION, PROVIDENCE, AND REDEMPTION, 

I LOVINGLY, REVERENTLY, AND HUMBLY DEDICATE THESE 
PAGES, WHICH HE HAS ENABLED ME TO WRITE. 





















































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£ ' % ' x • I 

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PREFACE. 


In introducing this child of my fancy to the Christ- 
ian public- I bespeak leniency of criticism. My object 
has been to do good in the cause of the truth of the 
gospel of Christ rather than to produce a finished 
work of fiction: to induce men and women, and young 
men and maidens, in this way, if possible, to read of 
some of the great truths of religion, and of the conflicts 
through which these truths have passed and are today 
passing in human hearts. In the form in which they 
are commonly presented these truths are usually pass- 
ed by unnoticed by ver}^ many who eagerly devour the 
countless pages of fiction which issue from the press. 
It is only when truth is presented incarnate that it se- 
cures the eye of the general reader. When the great 
Roman poet, Terence, exclaimed: “I am a man, and 
therefore am interested in everything that pertains to 
mankind,” he was enthusiastically applauded. He 
voiced a feeling which is natural, and which is recog- 
nized by the Word of God. A large part of the divine 
Book consists of biography. The virtues of the friends 
and servants of God, and the vices of his enemies, are 
clothed in adlual flesh and blood, and the great princi- 
ples moving them are presented incarnate, in order 
that we may admire and strive after the one, and hate 


VI 


PREFACE. 


and turn from the other. If Terence had said: “I am a 
man of truth , and therefore feel an interest in every- 
thing pertaining to the eternal principles of truth,” his 
words would not have been so extensively applauded 
as they were. 

We are all more interested in the actions of men 
and women than in the statement of abstract truth. 
We read the historic page, or books of biography, or 
works of fiction with a far greater relish than we ex- 
perience in poring over Butler’s Analogy, the Principia 
of Newton or Lock’s Essays; because real or imaginary 
men and women think, and speak, and act, before us. 

I need not tell the reader, who is familiar with the 
field of religious truth, that I lay no claim to original- 
ity in that realm. I have only sought to embody these 
old, well known, truths, in human characters, that 
many may see them, and, perchance, become better for 
the sight. 

For some years I have had in mind such a line of 
thought as that every fundamental truth of the Bible 
has been more clearly revealed and recognized in the 
Christian world by reason of some hard-fought battle. 
These conflicts have raged among professed Christians, 
who have engaged in bitter controversies, and in 
bloody battles over great truths. 

Indeed, no careful student of history can have fail- 
ed to observe the fact that every truth of religion, as 
well as many of what are now considered the plainest 
truths of science, have encountered the bitterest oppo- 
sition before securing recognition among men. The 
leading truths and fundamental doctrines of the Bible 
have been successively the subjects of controversy, even 
among professing Christians. The early centuries of 
Christianity were centuries of controversy about relig- 


PREFACE. 


vii 

ious doctrines. So wild, and fierce, and bitter were 
these controversies that General, or ([Ecumenical, coun- 
cils were called to authoritatively settle and define the 
doctrines in dispute. Each controversy, as history 
proves, was the means of a clearer understanding of, 
and a stronger grip upon, these great doctrines. They 
were in succession brought out and emphasized among 
men. Hence, in these wordy and literal battles for doc- 
trines, there has been a providential manifestation and 
enforcement of “truth out of conflict.” For instance, 
the doctrine of Justification had been obscured by the 
false teaching and shameless sale of indulgences by Ca- 
tholicism, and the great religious upheaval of the six- 
teenth century, in which Luther was a conspicuous fig- 
ure, gave to the world, with mighty emphasis, a clear- 
er idea of how God declares sinners just who believe 
in Christ. 

Besides this fact of history, the same battles over 
Bible truth, which is ever distasteful to the carnal 
heart, must be constantly fought over, in a greater or 
less degree, in the experience of every believing soul. 
There is never an acceptance of Christ as a personal 
Savior by a human soul, and a joyful recognition of 
the whole system of truths involved in such acceptance, 
except at the end of a fierce struggle of the old man, or 
or carnal nature, against those truths. There is then, 
both a historical and an experimental exaltation of 
truth out of conflict. 

While but few of the doctrines of the Bible could be 
presented in a small and unpretending book like this, 
yet the purpose has been to bring out this conflict, and 
the truth arising out of it, in both lines suggested, in 
reference to the greatest or most vital truths of the 
Bible, by means of the simple narration which follows, 


vm 


PREFACE. 


and which is not deemed unreasonable or over-drawn 
in a single particular. 

Julia Ashton, the heroine of the story, is not entire- 
ly a creature of my fancy, but, with important varia- 
tions, is a true picture of a gifted young lady of my 
acquaintance. So, to a greater or less extent, are the 
other characters of the story delineations of real per- 
sons. Even Robinson Comings was a real character. 
All the circumstances of the public execution, and the 
shooting of Will Mortimer, are literally true, though 
differently located, and came under my own observa- 
tion. 

The following pages were written before the publi- 
cation of the late work of Dr. Alvah Hovey, on ‘‘Bibli- 
cal Eschatology.” It is gratifying to note, however, 
that, in his admirable volume, he ably vindicates the 
doctrine of post-millenialism, which is indorsed by the 
principal characters of this story, and may be suppos- 
ed to be the view entertained by the author. 

Every line and word that has been written in the 
story has been written in honor of the truth as it is 
in Jesus our Lord : and that the truths which have 
been presented may be blessed of the Holy Spirit to the 
help and illumination of all who may hereby be induc- 
ed to give them a perusal, is the devout prayer of him 
who writes. L. S. F. 

Carrollton , Miss., April 30, 1892. 

Note: — Seven years have passed since the comple- 
tion of this manuscript. After a careful and prayerful 
re-reading of it before handing it to the printer, I have 
found nothing of importance which I care to change. 

* Jackson, Miss., April 25, 1899. L. S. F. 


CONTENTS. 





CHAPTER I. 

ASHTON HALL. 

Julia’s parents. — The Mountain City.— A great question. — Con- 
flict of Evil with Good.— Will Mortimer’s Grammar.— A com- 
promise Pages 17—28. 


CHAPTER II. 

AN AWAKENING. 

In earnest. — Will’s appeal to Mr. Ashton, who states the 
question. — It cannot be fully comprehended. — Secret and revealed 
things. — Mysteries in Nature and the Bible. — We may not limit God’s 
perfections nor say Evil is eternal. — Not to secure the greatest good 
to the greatest number Pages 29 — 37. 


CHAPTER III. 

HUMAN LIMITATIONS. 

Juvenile friends. — Will at Ashton Hall again. — The great question 
again. — All that we can know. — Sin not to be charged against God. 
— Object of man’s creation. — All things and events will glorify 
God. — Power of Truth Pages 38 — 4-6. 


CHAPTER IV. 

A GROUP OF FRIENDS. 

Emotion. — Dr. Prescott’s position. — Optimistic view. — Pessimistic 
view. — Array of fads. — Certain Scriptures. — Vices of Christian nations. 
— Pre-millennial principles. — First resurrection. Pages 47 — 57. 


X 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER V. 

A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE. 

Unrest. — Christian sympathy. — Will’s resolution. — What is the 
millennium ? — Second advent.— A general resurrection.— Twenty-fifth 
of Matthew. — The final outcome Pages 58 — 68. 


CHAPTER VI. 

“0 GALILEAN , THOU HAST CONQUERED 

In Sunday school. — A helpful sermon. — Increase of interest. — -The 
crisis comes with Will Mortimer.— His surrender and conversion. — 
“Q Galilean,, thou hast conquered!” Pages 69 — 80. 


CHAPTER VII. 

A CRANK . 

Robinson Comings on the scene. — His weird wooing. — His 
goodness of heart.— An afflicted Christian. — Manifestations of 
Evil Pages 81—87. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

HARRY BURTON. 

Summer at home. — Harry’s desire to be a Christian. — Ties to a 
better life. — Human efforts. — Universal offers. — “The light may’break 
upon me.” Pages 88 — 96. 


CHAPTER IX. 

MR. ASHTON’S FAITH. 

Humble opinion of his faith. — Belief in the efficacy of prayer. — 
Simplicity of faith. — Of the nature of a discovery. — Impulse of new 
converts. — “I will still try.” — Troubled visions Pages 97 — 101. 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


* 


CHAPTER X. 

FRIENDS AT ASHTON HALL. 

Another conversation.— Judge Norman.— Orthodoxy and money. 
— Mrs. Prescott. — Mr. Dixon. — Simplicity of early confessions. — Creed 
building.— A question which all must meet Pages 102 — 112. 


CHAPTER XI. 

THE CONVERSATION CONTINUED. 

Apostle’s Creed. — Curious stories. — Its age. — Why no system in 
the Bible. — A truth not to be rejected because incomprehensible.— 
Advantages of making systems. — Everyone should make his own 
confession Pages 113—122. 


CHAPTER XII. 

SUFFERINGS FOR TRUTH. 

Musings. — Mysteries. — Guests. — Another letter from Harry. — 
Sufferings for truth. — To be expected. — Policy of Roman emperors. 
— Three classes of persecution: from Jews; from Pagans; from 
established Christianity Pages 123 — 133. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

AMIDST CLASSIC SCENERY. 

A lawyer’s prescription. — Clifford Burffon. — A visit to the 
old home of an American statesman. — Natural beauty. — A dis- 
tinguished American. — His opinion of Christianity. — Christian 
heroism at least an evidence of sincerity. — Instances of Pagan 
persecution Pages 134 — 152. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

SHIFTING SCENES. 

A priest. — Religion established. — The germ of persecution. — Hor- 
rors of the Inquisition. — Does God rule? — Why are these things 
permitted ? — The power of truth. — “Dear Julia.”. ..Pages 153 — 167. 


CONTENTS. 


xii 

\ 


• CHAPTER XV. 

SORELY TRIED. 

Resolution to be gay.— Laura Chatfield.— Worldly pleasure. 
— “Julia, have a good time.” — Will’s sadness. — “Laura, may be 
right.” — Barriers. — A “Declaration of war.” Pages 168 — 174. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

WHAT DO YOU CHRISTIANS WORSHIP ? 

Conversation on the divinity of Christ. — Laura Chatfield’ s 
skepticism. — A lover’s tiff. Pages 175 — 196. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY. 

The pastor and wife at Judge Norman’s. — Clifford calls. — A 
moralist.— Julia’s resolution strengthened. — Sketch of the Arian 
controversy. — Laura’s philosophy Pages 197 — 210. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

A STRUGGLE FOR A PRINCIPLE. 

Is religious liberty understood? — The name of Christ in the 
Constitution of the* United States. — Mr. Ashton’s view. — Dr. 
Prescott’s position. — The germ of persecution. — The past. — Much 
evidence. — Mr. Jefferson Pages 211 — 226. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

TOLERATION NOT FREEDOM. 

Toleration in England. — Struggling alone. — Romanism. — Episco- 
pacy. — Reformers. — John Calvin. — Establishment in America. — Pat- 
rick Henry.— Baptists refused public patronage. — Bible in public 
schools. — Church property ! Pages 227 — 243. 


CONTENTS. 


xiii 


CHAPTER XX. 

AM I CHOSEN OR NOT? 

Melancholy. — Will proposes. — Growing skepticism.— “I am not 
myself.”— “Am I chosen ?”— Eternal choice.— Choice of persons.— 
Freedom unimpaired.— We cannot understand some things.— First 
principles.— Death of Robinson Comings Pages 244—263. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

NIGHT THOUGHTS. 

Love’s interest. — Will tries to solve the case. — Encour- 
agements. —Resolution.— “ Prayer is mighty. ” — Sickness. — Dark- 
ness Pages 264—268. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

A VISIT.— RETURNING HEALTH. 

A strange circumstance.— Grave of Robinson Comings. — Fright.— 
Ralph Norton again.— Laura Chatfield’s view of life.— Many things 
inexplicable. — Dr. Prescott in the city Pages 269 — 276. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

IS GOD UNRIGHTEOUS? 

The mission of mercy. — Judge Norman and Mr. Ashton. — “Faith 
intangible.” — Skepticism. — The penalty of law certain. — What is 
law? — Law uninforced merely advice. — Wayland. — Nature proves 
God’s existence. — Addison. — Professor Barker’s remarkable con- 
cession Pages 277—286. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

IS GOD JUST IN SAVING MEN? 

“Your merciless creed.” — Written and unwritten law. — “Ought” 
and “Ought not.” — Indian.— -None fully obey as far as they know. — 
So many lost. — Righteousness of Christ. — No relaxation of law. 
— Justice. — Substitution. — Office of faith Pages 287 — 297. 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER XXV. 

DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. 

Paul and James. — Two statements may not be contradictory. — 
Faith necessarily implies aCtion. — Unconvinced. — The Bible in 
history. — Its teachings. — A distinguished man. — Vitality of the 
Bible. — Gibbon’s testimony. — Evils of establishment. — Luther. — His 
work Pages 298 — 306. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

ROME'S ARGUMENTS. 

Sorrows increase. — Mrs. Prescott passes away. — Will Morti- 
mer joins the church.— Julia inherits a fortune. — Roman Cath- 
olicism. — Rome’s idea of Religion. — Rome’s final argument. — Ab- 
duction Pages 307 — 320. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

OPINIONS OF RELIGION. 

The Abbess. — “Why am I imprisoned?” — “To save your soul.” — 
The hardened criminal. — Views of religion. — Not a resolution to 
live better. — Not a reformation. — A new heart. — A convict believes. 
— Two others believe and rejoice. — Ralph Norton dies in prison. — 
Sorrow at home Pages 321 — 334. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

DARKNESS AND MYSTERY. 

Interest in Julia.. — No traces of her. — Mr. Ashton’s strong trust. — 
Mystery of Providence.— The Lord’s hand.— A po^m.— Ralph Norton. 
—Prayer and work.— Judge Norman’s view.— Nothing impossible 
with God Pages 335—343. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE PLOTS OF ENEMIES. 

Sorrow.— Increasing infirmity.— “ Where is Julia?”— Arts of 
Romanism.— Her female ministers.— “Why am I detained ?”— Hope.— 
“Aunt Vinie.”— Priest McLemore.— Escape Pages 344—355. 


CONTENTS. 


XV 


CHA-PTER XXX. 

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 

Friends in the pastor’s study. — Missions.— The heathen.— Christ’s 
command.— Judge Norman’s income and contributions. — An appeal 
to the Judge. — Scripture teaching.— God’s promises.— The tithes.— 
Money in religion. — Giving is worship. — Love. — Proportion of in-' 
come. — Examples of God’s blessings Pages 356 — 374. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

THICK DARKNESS . 

Rome’s financial scheming. — Her avaricious spirit. — “I give this 
for my freedom.” — In the toils. — Violent release. — Impaired health. — 
In the darkness. — Insanity. — A poem Pages 375 — 387. 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

LIGHT AND TRUTH AT LAST. 

Restoration to friends. — Clifford a Christian. ^-A public execu- 
tion. — The liquor traffic. — “Tell me I hate the bowl.” — A murderer. — 
Will Mortimer severely wounded. — Slow recovery.— Light and 
truth. — “I am hot myself.” — Betrothal. — Marriage. — Fortune. — Use- 
fulness Pages 388 — 400. 












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‘ 





FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER I. 

ASHTON HALL. 

Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again, 

For God’s eternal years are hers: 

While Error, wounded, writhes in pain. 

And dies amidst her worshippers. 

— Bkyant. 

“What a wild conflict we see everywhere!” exclaim- 
ed Julia Ashton, more to herself than to her uncle, who 
sat near her in the library of Ashton Hall. 

The speaker was a young lady, nineteen years of 
age, with a face of singular attractiveness and beaut}^ 
bearing the unmistakable impress of earnest and vigor- 
ous thought, with rosy cheeks and a wealth of dark 
auburn hair. Her large, lustrous brown eyes were tru- 
ly the windows of a great soul, which had never yet 
been fully aroused to the high purposes, and great 
problems of life. As you look upon the charming face 
you are fascinated, and have an irresistible impulse to 
prolong your study of its charms, and to try to read 
the character which is spread out before you, as the 
writing upon some illuminated scroll. You can easily 
read strength of character, and vigor and energy of 
thought. If you are skilled in physiognomy you can 


18 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


read in the open face of Julia Ashton an indomitable 
purpose to thoroughly accomplish whatever she under- 
takes, and to go to the bottom of all questions which 
she lays hold of. No superficial view of a subject will 
satisfy her thorough and energetic intellectual nature. 

Her mother had been a woman of strength of char- 
acter, thorough-going and faithful in all the details of 
life, and, although raised in a southern home of afflu- 
ence, surrounded by slaves to obey her every wish, she 
nevertheless, in her own home and house-keeping, gave 
her personal supervision and attention, so that, 
throughout her home, there was the unmistakable im- 
press of her individuality and thoroughness. She was 
a woman of deep piety, and her daily life was a perpet- 
ual benediction to those about her. Her piety was not 
exhausted in an empty profession, but wherever there 
was sorrow that she could soften, or suffering that she 
could alleviate, or distress that she could relieve, it 
was her great delight to perform these deeds of useful- 
ness and love. Her piety thus became a living power, 
impressing every one with the beauty of her character 
and nobility of soul, and causing all with whom she 
came in contact to feel that if religion produced such 
fruits as these which enriched her life, then surely it is 
a most excellent and valuable possession. 

Her only brother, twelve years her senior, had 
lived many years in Cuba, and had devoted himself en- 
tirely to the accumulation of money. This had long 
since become his ruling passion, and had led him to bid 
adieu to his only sister, and seek his fortune in the sun- 
ny island. Blockaded ports had cut off all regular 
communication with him for years, but an occasional 
letter slipped through, bearing the information that he 
still lived, and was prospering in business. He had 


FROM KRROR’S CHAINS. 


19 


never married. Besides this brother, Mrs. Ashton had 
no other living relatives of whom she had any knowl- 
edge. 

Her husband, Col. Ashton, was a fine specimen of a 
southern planter. Tall, courtly in his bearing, and the 
very “soul of honor.” He had served in the Confeder- 
ate army during the four dark years of civil strife, and 
after the cessation of hostilities, had returned to his 
home, so crushed in spirit because of the failure of the 
“lost cause,” and the loss of his slaves, and the devas- 
tation of his estate, that he shut himself up in his home 
and completely abandoned himself to hopeless melan- 
choly. He had an only son, ten years the senior of 
Julia, a noble gifted boy, to whom he and Mrs. Ashton 
were fervently attached, whose bravery and patriot- 
ism had won for him the love and admiration of his 
father’s entire regiment. This son fell before the fire 
of musketry, during the seven days fighting around 
Richmond. As the idolized youth bled his life out on 
the field of carnage, as, alas ! did so many of the flower 
and chivalry of the nation, both north and south, the 
father’s heart seemed to die within him. The death 
of an only, and beloved, and bright, son, on the field 
of strife, with the succeeding disappointments and re- 
verses, caused a shock from which the stricken father 
never recovered; and in a few months after his return 
home the brave and noble southerner laid himself down 
in the dreamless slumber of death. 

The widow made a heroic struggle in the manage- 
ment of the farm after the Colonel’s death, but, with 
the changed conditions of labor and the political confu- 
sion which prevailed, to contend with, she barely suc- 
ceeded in supporting herself and daughter, and keeping 
the farm in a passable condition. 


20 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Although a woman of a very strong and energetic 
mind, her physical constitution was rather frail. The 
strain upon her physical force was so great, and the 
obstacles with which she had to contend were so for- 
midable, that, two years after her husband’s death, 
she was brought face to face with the terrible reality 
of leaving little Julia, at the age of eleven, alone, in the 
great, selfish world. There came a time when the child, 
with tearful eyes, was summoned to the bedside of the 
pale sufferer, and had burned into her childish soul the 
last words from a mother’s lips, and from the death- 
less love of a mother’s heart. 

“My darling,” she said, as the end drew near, 
“how can I leave you alone? But God will care for 
you. — Trust in Jesus — your mother’s Savior. — He is so 
near and precious! — He is with me now! — How bright 
is the dear old room! — Blessed Jesus! — Farewell, my 
darling!” — and the pure spirit was gone, leaving the 
little Julia sobbing as though her heart would break, 
alone in the world. These last words of her mother’s 
love were engraved upon her childish memory for life. 

Mr. James Ashton, much older than his brother, 
Col. Ashton, was an entirely different type of a man 
from the courtly, chivalrous, aristocratic planter. He 
had been endowed by nature with an unusual gift of 
sound, practical, sense. . This practical turn of mind, 
accompanied with devout, unobtrusive, piety, enabled 
him to take hold of the ends of his broken fortune, ten 
years prior to the opening of our story, and to build it 
up into an ample competence. He had been through 
the deep waters of affliction, and ere his brother’s wid- 
ow laid down the struggle of life and entered into the 
rest of the redeemed, he had been bereft of all of his 
family, and lived all alone in his elegant home in a 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


21 


beautiful mountain city in one of the Carolinas. He, 
therefore, esteemed it a rare and delightful privilege to 
receive into his home, and tenderly and lovingly care 
for his brother’s little Julia. 

During the eight years that have elapsed since her 
mother’s death Mr. Ashton has lavished upon his niece 
the wealth of affection of his great Christian heart. He 
has given her every opportunity for self improvement. 
The best female colleges of the nation have been open- 
ed to her, and their treasures of science and literature 
laid at her feet. Special attention has been given to 
her musical training, and she has enjoyed the advan- 
tage of a thorough course in one of the best conserva- 
tories of music in the whole country. To her credit, be 
it said, she has proved herself entirely worthy of her 
uncle’s love, and has enthusiastically improved all of 
the opportunities offered her, acquitting herself with 
distinction in ever}' department, and making an espe- 
cially fine record in music. 

Through the good judgment of Mr. Ashton, in the 
selection of competent agents, Julia’s farm in the “low 
country” has been made to yield an income more than 
sufficient to meet all of the expenses of her education. 
Recently, however, because of his advancing age, her 
uncle has advantageously sold the farm, and invested 
the proceeds in good securities in her own name. 

His elegant home is known as “Ashton Hall,” and 
within and without, in all of its apartments, and in its 
exquisitely beautiful grounds, it bears the marks of 
wealth coupled with delicacy and refinement of taste. 

The little city, in which Ashton Hall is situated, is 
an educational centre, and is also a favorite summer 
resort for wealthy merchants and planters from the 
“low country,” because of its delightfully healthy cli- 


22 


from error’s Chains. 


mate. It nestles at the feet of the mountains, of which 
there are three ranges visible from the tower of the 
University on a clear day, respectively five, twelve, and 
forty, miles distant. Three institutions of learning are 
domiciled in the city, two male schools, and one large 
female school. These educational institutions impart 
to the community quite a literary flavor. A clear and 
beautiful stream, dignified with the name of “river,” 
rushes through the city, over rocks, and down rapids, 
with the most picturesque scenery on either bank. 
There is a population of ten thousand or more at the 
opening of our story, the majority of whom live in the 
older portion, north of the beautiful, laughing, river; 
but of late South End is becoming populous, and the 
city is growing rapidly and substantially in that di- 
rection. 

In this pure mountain atmosphere no deadly mala- 
ria can abide to produce chills and fever ; and it is said 
by the “oldest inhabitants” that musquitoes were an 
unknown quantity until the first railway train entered 
the city from the southern portion of the State. 

Never was there presented a more charming scene 
for the artist’s brush, than on this occasion, in the li- 
brary of Ashton Hall, presented itself. A young girl, 
of extraordinary beauty and accomplishments, with 
many imperfections, of course, her face glowing with 
thought, and her mind thoroughly aroused for the first 
time in her life to the consideration of a great question, 
which had suddenly thrust itself upon her attention. 

“What a ceaseless struggle there is constantly go- 
ing on between good and evil ! Whithersoever we turn 
our eyes we see the battle-ground of forces, marshalled 
in terrific conflict. Those allied to, and approved by, 
our better nature, are arrayed on one side ; and those 


from /Error’s chains. 


23 


which we intuitively feel to be wrong, on the other. 
Uncle, you have long given your thoughts to these 
things, and now have reached a good old age; what 
do you think of this marshalling of evil against good ? 
What is to be the end of this raging conflict ? Was that 
man right who spoke in the Jewish council at Jerusa- 
lem, when the question of murdering the disciples of the 
Nazarene came before that body ?” earnestly asked Ju- 
lia Ashton of her uncle, as she sat beside him in the li- 
brary. Mr. Ashton was intently engaged in reading 
one of those consoling sermons of Flavel, which fur- 
nished him spiritual uplifting during his leisure hours. 

“My dear,” he said kindly, “what has led your 
thoughts in such a channel this evening ? I suppose 
you refer to the highly esteemed teacher at whose feet 
the Apostle Paul received his training in the literature 
of the Hebrews. But why have you been led to think 
so seriously of the matter ? And why do you speak so 
lightly of the Christian’s Lord as to call him ‘the Naz- 
arene ?’ ’’ 

“I did not mean to speak lightly, or irreverently, 
of Jesus of Nazareth, and if I seemed to you to speak 
so I ask your pardon. But, uncle, I have become great- 
ly confused of late by reading the conflicting views of 
optimistic and pessimistic writers. The optimists as- 
sure us that the world and the churches are growing 
better all the time, and that this is the brightest and 
best of all the ages of the world. On the other hand, 
pessimists tell us that every thing is growing worse all 
the time, that there are fewer real Christians now, in 
proportion to non-Christians, than ever before since 
the introduction of the religion of Christ, that there is 
more crime than ever before, and that we live in one 
of the most corrupt ages of the world. 


24 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“This Jewish doctor, uncle, of whom you spoke, 
has said, in substance, that if the religion of Jesus were 
of men, it would come to nothing, but if of God, these 
colleagues of his could not put an end to it ; for in at- 
tempting to do so they would be found fighting against 
God. He also gave two instances in which human im- 
posture had come to nothing. If now, these writers 
who say that the world, both saint and sinner, is con- 
stantly growing worse, speak truly, then either this 
wise counsellor was mistaken, or the religion of Jesus 
was a human invention.” 

“You have stated a question, my dear, which many 
wise men have sought to understand. In regard to this 
remarkable statement of Gamaliel, we must bear in 
mind that it is merely the opinion of a man. The Bible 
is only committed to the truth that such words were 
spoken by this man. Yet I think it is a truth which he 
spoke, and that it is fully sustained by the teachings 
of God’s Word. That which God has determined shall 
prosper cannot be overthrown by men. Kings may set 
themselves, and rulers may take counsel together, 
against the Lord, and against his Anointed. But such 
opposition will be vain. If men persist in it the Lord 
will break them with a rod of iron ; and dash them in 
pieces like a potter’s vessel. 1 ” 

The venerable silver-haired man paused a few mo- 
ments, regarding his niece with intensely earnest solici- 
tude. Was there an awakening of her better nature? 
Was she beginning to feel in her own heart the conflict 
between good and evil, of .which she had so earnestly 
spoken ? His features reflected the jov which such a 
thought awoke within him. 

“It must be equally true, Julia,” he continued, 

1 Psalm 2 ; 2, 9. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


25 


“that any system of belief which is wrought out bv 
man, and palmed o'ff upon his fellow men as divinely 
revealed, will come to nothing. Sometimes, however, 
false systems have held their sway over men for centu- 
ries, and their continued power seems to be opposed to 
this statement, and to brand it as false. Mohamme- 
danism sprang up in the seventh century, and spread 
almost entirely over the known world, and it still holds 
its terrible domination over thousands of mad devo- 
tees. So of Confucianism, and Buddhism, and other 
false religions.” 

“But, uncle, what of these pessimistic views, of 
which I spoke ? Is the world really to continue to 
grow worse?” 

“There is, my dear, an overdrawing of the picture 
in both the classes of writers you mention. Things are 
hardly so dark as the one class would have us believe, 
nor quite so bright as the others paint them. While 
there may be less of living piety among Christians 
now, in proportion to the population of the world, 
than in some former age, there cannot be the slightest 
doubt as to the final and universal triumph of the 
truth of our Lord. We believe, upon the most ample 
evidence, that ‘this counsel’ and work of religion is of 
God, and that the -combined forces of wicked men and 
evil spirits will be powerless in its complete overthrow. 
The sure word of prophecy has declared that our Lord 
shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satis- 
fied . 1 I cannot think that anything less than the sal- 
vation of an overwhelming majority of the human race 
will be satisfactory to him for the travail of his soul. 
Though the alarming majority of the men and women 
now living may die unsaved, I think there is to be a 


1 Isaiah ">;3 : 11. 


26 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


resurrection 1 of new spiritual power, a raising up of 
teachers in whose souls shall burn all the holy ardor, 
and zealous enthusiasm that characterized the early 
Christian teachers. The whole of the Bible is pledged 
to the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Although 
for many centuries the cause of truth and righteous- 
ness may trail in the dust, yet in the end God’s Word 
will be found more solid and immovable than the ever- 
lasting hills or the foundations of the earth.” 

“Miss Julia, massa Mortimer in de parlor an’ say 
he want ter see you,” interrupted Jane. 

“Very well, Jane.” 

A few moments later, after a hasty toilet, Julia 
stood in the presence of her friend, Will Mortimer, ra- 
diant and rosy before, his admiring eyes. He thought 
she never seemed more beautiful than now, with her 
whole soul stirred within her, and her earnest thought 
upon the question of conversation with her uncle beam- 
ing upon her face. Indeed, she was looking her best at 
the moment he saw her. 

“Will you not join uncle in the library, so that we 
may all spend the evening together ?” she asked of her 
friend, after a brief conversation. 

“You had better spend the evening with me in the 
parlor,” replied Mr. Mortimer, “‘for I have some news 
from your cousin, Harry Burton, who is just now fully 
established in his position as rail-road employee.” 

“Oh ! Will, why do you butcher the Queen’s Eng- 
lish, by constantly using that ungrammatical express- 
ion, ‘you had better spend’? But, please pardon me for 
criticizing your grammar. I am continually getting 
myself into trouble by speaking too hastily,” said the 
blushing girl. 

1 Rev. 20 : 5. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


27 


“You are pardoned, my fair eritic, and I heartily 
accept your penitence. But, since you have criticized 
my grammar, I beg to say I have some authority to 
offer in its defense. Here it is, in a late periodical. Let 
me read it: ‘Sometime ago, some purist wrote to a 
widely circulated journal, calling in question the pro- 
priety of the phrase, “had better go,” and suggesting 
“would better go’’ as an improvement (?) It is not al- 
together safe to criticize the said journal’s English, as 
the purist aforesaid probably discovered. This journal 
went into the question with energy and gusto, and 
proved etymologically, and from the best usage, that 
“had rather go” is here to stay — or, at all events, is 
perfectly good English. Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, 
Goldsmith, and the English Bible, are all quoted as au- 
thorities, and no better authorities are to be had for 
any English phrase. After awhile some purist may dis- 
cover that it is wrong to say “chickens for chick is 
evidently singular, and chicken is clearly its plural ; and 
the man who first said chickens was ignorant that he 
was using a double plural, like oxens or childrens. If 
long, reputable, and unquestioned usage will not fix 
the place of a word in our language, then chickens 
“would better go.’” What say you to that ?” 

“That the expression is nevertheless ungrammati- 
cal,” replied the young lady. “The remark about 
‘chickens’ is entirely irrelevant, and besides is an incor- 
rect statement. See, here is something more, from a 
correspondent of the same periodical. Permit me now 
to read to you a few words. This correspondent says : 
‘In your short notice as to the English of “had better 
go,” or “had rather go,” you say; “after awhile some 
purist may discover that it is wrong to say chickens , 
etc.” If Dr. John Earle, of Oxford, and W. W. Skeat, 


28 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


of Cambridge, are authority in language, then the asser- 
tion that chick is or was the singular of chicken is wrong. 
Earle , 1 in Philology of the English Tongue, says; 
“ Chicken , which has been taken for a plural, is really a 
singular ; and chickens is its simple plural. According- 
ly chick is a young and deductive derived from the im- 
aginary plural chicken” Skeat 2 pronounces the form 
chick to be a mere abbreviation of chicken , “the oldest 
form.”’ As to the error in question,” she continued, 
“if you will turn to Pinneo’s Analytical Grammar , 3 
which ought to be good authority with you Virgin- 
ians, as it is repeatedly cited by the late celebrated Dr. 
McGuffey, of the University, as first-class authority, 
you will find that he points out this very error. He 
says; ‘Avoid the improper use of had for would ; as, 
“He had better not go,” -for, “He would better not 
go.” An attempt to parse had go, will show the inac- 
curacy of this very common error.’ He also adds; 
‘This error is so common, that the correct form sounds 
unnatural.’ The inaccuracies of Chaucer, Spencer, 
Shakespeare, or anybody else, ought not to be followed 
by any one who desires to be a scholar, or to preserve 
the purity of his mother tongue.” 

“You make out a strong case against me, you ro- 
guish little critic, and I suppose there is nothing left for 
me to do but acknowledge my error, and compromise 
the matter by accepting your invitation to spend the 
evening with you and Mr. Ashton in the library. I will 
tell you of Harry at another time. So I am at your 
service,” said young Mortimer, in his genial, good hu- 
mored manner. 

Julia led the way, and both she and her friend were 
soon pleasantly chatting with her beloved uncle. 

1 Third Ed., $881. 2 Etymolog. Dict’y. 8 Page 1S4. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


29 


CHAPTER II. 


AN AWAKENING. 

“Mystery, such as is given of Gocl, is beyond the power of human 
penetration, yet not in opposition to it.“— Madam de Stael. 

Both Mr. Ashton and the } T oung friend were sur- 
prised at the deep feeling manifested in Julia’s conver- 
sation. Depths had been stirred within her soul, the 
existence of which neither her uncle nor friend suspect- 
ed. It required no woman’s keen perception to inter- 
pret the interest with which young Mortimer hung up- 
on her earnest words. 

As for her uncle, he secretly prayed that this awak- 
ening of her better nature might result in the complete 
yielding of her heart to the wooing of a Savior’s love, 
and in her experience of the growing power of the law 
of the mind over the law of the members, which only 
those understand who have been led to a strong unwa- 
vering trust in Christ as their personal Savior. 

“You and I had a little tiff a moment ago as to the 
correctness of the expression, ‘had better stay.’ It 
would give me great pleasure to hear you and uncle 
clear up this question of the strange blending of good 
and evil in human life, and of the ceaseless struggle go- 
ing on between them. How is it all to end ? It seems 
now to be a very doubtful conflict, but I confess that, 
from my stand-point, I am not a proper person to de- 
cide the matter. Indeed, why is it that evil was ever 


30 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


permitted to enter our world ? I believe that God is 
represented in the Bible as possessing infinite power. 
He is also, if I mistake not, represented as of purer 
eyes than to behold evil, and as unable to look upon 
sin . 1 How is it then, that, since he does not approve 
of evil, and has all power, and could have prevented its 
appearance, he has yet suffered it to exist, and to 
spread such a sad blight over his creation ?” 

Such a picture of earnestness and beauty had never 
before entranced Will Mortimer as was now presented 
to his vision, in this charming girl, as she thus spoke 
out her soul. 

“Bring out the treasures of your religious lore, 
Will, for you will have need of your strongest reasons 
in meeting this question which Julia has propounded,” 
said Mr. Ashton, noticing the hesitation of his young 
friend. 

“I will beg the privilege of referring Miss Julia to 
you, sir, for a solution of this mystery. You are a ma- 
ture Christian, and no doubt have, in your long experi- 
ence, gathered rich stores of Biblical lore. I see here 
your favorite volume, Flavel’s Works, from which I 
know you have been drawing fresh supplies of relig- 
ious truth, as he seems, so I have heard Christians say, 
to have reached the very heart of the Bible. You can, 
no doubt, clear up this matter for her, as well as for 
myself. I have no well defined opinion on the subject, 
and would be very glad to hear your opinion.” 

The old gentleman seriously regarded his niece and 
her companion for a moment, and then slowly, as if 
measuring or weighing each word, he said : 

“My children, you have brought me face to face 
with one of the most profound mysteries that meets us 


1 HhI). 1 : 13. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


31 


in the whole realm of religions truth. In every age 
earnest and devout men have grappled with this mys- 
tery, and it becomes me to confess to you, that, with 
our present limited knowledge of the character and 
purposes of God, it cannot be satisfactorily solved. 
There are times in our study of religious truth, when it 
becomes our highest wisdom to confess our ignorance.” 

“Why, uncle, are there things in your Bible, that, 
after a long life of prayer and meditation, you cannot 
understand ? I thought the Bible was designed to clear 
up all mysteries for us, and that it made everything 
so plain that the wayfaring man though a fool need 
not err therein . 1 If it fail's in this, it seems to me that 
it fails to accomplish its object, for it claims to be a 
revelation of God to man.” 

“If the Bible were a human book, Julia, if it were 
merely the work of man, then we might fully under- 
stand it. Indeed, so much of it as is necessary for the 
safety of our souls is so plain that he that runneth 
may read . 2 But it is also to be remembered that, while 
these clearly revealed things belong to us and our chil- 
dren, there are also secret things which belong only to 
God , 3 All that is needful for our highest life is very 
plain ; some things are taught in God’s revelation to us 
as to fact, but as to their nature and relations they are 
still secret, and belong to God. It is impossible for the 
Infinite to become perfectly comprehensible to the finite. 
The fact that the Bible contains some things which lie 
beyond the reach of our powers, is an evidence of its 
divine origin. 

“In the world around us there are many things we 
do not understand. We do not understand why it is, 
or how it is, that, in the very same soil and in the very 

1 Isaiah 85 : 8. 2 Hah. 2 : 2. 8 Deut. 29 :29. 


82 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


same atmosphere, the hemlock will assimilate elements 
which it combines into a deadly poison, and another 
tree, standing by its side, will assimilate elements 
which it combines into a juicy apple, or peach, or pear, 
so delightful to our palates. You do not understand 
how it is that your muscles are always obedient to 
your will, and, that, whatever you wish to accomplish, 
you have only to will it, and, if within their power, 
your muscles execute your volitions. Nature is full of 
inexplicable mysteries, but we understand enough to 
meet all of our physical necessities. The Bible contains 
unfathomable depths. It has many things which we 
cannot understand. But we can comprehend all that 
it is necessary for us to know in our journey to the ce- 
lestial city.” 

“That is a plausible explanation, uncle. I had not 
thought of that before. It now seems reasonable that 
there should be some things connected with the charac- 
ter of God and his government that we cannot under- 
stand.” 

“True, my child, but let us look a little farther at 
this mystery. It is well for us to continually remind 
ourselves of the difference between the acceptance of a 
fact and our ability to understand that fact. It is the 
greatest folly to reject any well authenticated fact be- 
cause we cannot fully comprehend it. Everywhere in 
the pages of revealed truth the infinite goodness of God 
is taught, or assumed. The whole system rests upon 
this as one of the strong foundations of the deliver- 
ance which it offers to sinful men. It pictures in dark- 
est colors the presence and ruin of moral evil. Our ob- 
servation fully confirms the divine tracings of this dark 
picture of the universal sway of iniquity. God has no 
pleasure in sin. He had the power to prevent its ap- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


as 

pearance in the universe. He did not do it. The first 
created being in whom a thought of rebellion against 
God’s authority sprang up, is, by reason of his freedom 
of choice and moral agency, responsible for the exist- 
ence of sjn. God is not the author of sin. How a 
thought of sin ever arose in the soul of a pure and sin- 
less being, and why God allowed sin to come into his 
universe, we cannot understand. We can only accept 
the facts and wait for the increased light of eternity to 
illuminate this mystery. Yet it is entirely lawful for us 
to study these things as diligently as possible. Angelic 
beings are represented as bending over with eager de- 
sire to look into the mysteries of God’s plans and pur- 
poses . 1 As there are new discoveries constantly being 
made in the material world, so the experience and 
study of the ages are constantly throwing fresh light 
upon difficult portions of God’s Word. But we may 
rest assured that no discovery can ever clear up this 
mystery, that God is good and evil exists.” 

“But, uncle, is not that statement self- contradic- 
tory? How can God be infinitely wise, powerful, and 
good, and vet permit such a wild waste of sin?” 

“Ah! my dear, there is the rub. When we have 
reached that point, we have reached the limit of relig- 
ious thought. To escape this difficulty there are three 
courses open to us. We must limit either God’s knowl- 
edge or power, or we must ascribe eternit}^ to the Dev- 
il, or we must say we do not understand the mystery. 
God knew all things, and knew that the leader of fallen 
angels would sin, before he created him, and notwith- 
standing this knowledge he created him. Either this is 
true, or he did not know what would be the result of 
the trial of those beings whom he endowed with free- 


1 1 Pet. 1 : 12. 


34 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


dom of will to choose good or evil, obedience or diso- 
bedience; and in that case he does not possess all 
knowledge. Or, having all power and resources, he 
could have given these perfecft beings such an impulse 
to continued obedience as that a thought of disobedi- 
ence would never have occurred to them, and they 
would have kept their first estate. Either this is true, 
or God had not all power to create and influence as 
he wished. Or the spirit of evil is co- eternal with God, 
and hence is self- existent, and co-equal with God. If 
this is true, then indeed is the struggle between good 
and evil a doubtful one, and none can divine the result 
of it in the ages to come. But this is clearly not true. 
Satan is indeed represented as a strong man armed, 
keeping his palace, with his goods in peace. But Christ 
is revealed as the ‘ stronger than he,’ who will over- 
come him, and take from him his armor wherein he 
■ trusted, and divide his spoils . 1 We mav not limit God’s 
knowledge or power, nor suppose Satan self- existent 
and co- eternal with God, but must simply believe that, 
for some wise purpose, which can only be accomplish- 
ed in this way, God has permitted sin to make its ap- 
pearance in the universe, and, that, notwithstanding 
this fact, God is infinitely holy, wi.se and powerful. 
How this moral evil could be permitted consistentlv 
with his goodness we do not know , we cannot under- 
stand." 

“I see, sir,” said Will, “that this is the only conclu- 
sion we can reach, for the only other conclusions possi- 
ble are really opposed to the Scripture teachings con- 
cerning the character of God. But it is perplexing and 
bewildering to be forced to acknowledge that there are 
some things which your great guide - Book leaves en- 

1 Luke II : 21. 22. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


35 


veloped in mystery. If I were a Christian, it would be 
humiliating to me. Indeed I am almost driven to the 
conclusion that there are some unknowable things 
whieh even God cannot know. Can we not find a solu- 
tion of the question in boldly saying that God could 
not know before -hand what would be the action of 
creatures whom he endowed with absolute freedom of 
choice ? or that God could not prevent their choosing 
disobedience rather than obedience, without interfering 
with their freedom of choice ? It seems to me that this 
would just settle the question for us.” 

* ‘There have been others before you, Will, who have 
said that God’s knowledge and power do not compre- 
hend the actions of free moral agents. But such views 
as you express dishonor God and fail to meet the real 
difficulty.” 

“Let me say a word,” said Julia. “This idea has 
occurred to me, uncle, and I state it in the form of a 
question. May we not say that, in order to secure the 
largest measure of happiness to the greatest number of 
his intelligent creatures, God has permitted moral evil 
to manifest itself? God is constantly giving us exhibi- 
tions of his goodness and of his desire to promote our 
happiness. We see this in the beauty of every flower 
and smell it in the flower’s fragrance, we hear it in all 
the grand harmonies of oratorios and orchestras, we 
taste it in the luscious juiciness of the peach, and apple, 
and orange. Those who have studied Nature deeply 
tell us that important benevolent ends are subserved 
by even the destructive forces of Nature — the cyclone, 
the volcano, electricity. May not God intend, by the 
presence of moral evil, to bring the greatest good to 
the greatest number ?” 

“There is no doubt, Julia, that God does so over- 


36 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


rule all human actions as to bring good out of.ev.il, but 
there is a lurking fallacy in your idea that moral evil 
was permitted in order that the greatest happiness 
might be seeured to the greatest number of created be- 
ings. God is indeed infinitely benevolent, and we are 
overwhelmed with evidences of his goodness. But to 
suppose that he has permitted evil to exist to secure 
greater happiness to his creatures is to say, consciously 
or unconsciously, that evil is a good thing and is pro- 
ductive of good. It is to indorse the principle, which 
receives God’s emphatic condemnation, ‘Let us do evil 
that good may come .’ 1 It also assumes that the end 
of creation is the production of the greatest amount 
of happiness, and therefore that any action is right or 
wrong according to its tendency to produce happiness. 
This I do not think is true. It finds no support in the 
Scriptures. The crucifixion of Christ, for instance, was 
all pre-arranged by the Father and secures the un- 
speakable happiness of all who are saved by faith in 
him. But this does not in any wise lessen the criminal- 
ity of those who by wicked hands crucified and slew 
him .” 2 

Will Mortimer soon threw off the religious impress- 
ions made upon him by his contact with the truths 
which were made to face him at Ashton Hall. . He had 
been led unwillingly to their consideration. At the mo- 
ment he had given them his undivided attention, but 
not having his heart thoroughly aroused no perma- 
nent impression was made upon him. 

Not so, Julia. Long, in the solitude of her own 
room, she thought upon these things. Softly, the last 
words of her sainted mother stole in upon her ; “Trust 
in Jesus, your mother’s Savior. He is so near and pre- 

1 Rom. 8 : 8. *2 Acts *2 : *28. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


37 


cious.” “Oh! mother, dear,” thought she, as she look- 
ed up into the blue, star -lit, vault, from her window, 
“where are you now ? Do you, can you, look down up- 
on your child tonight ? Are you up there, beyond 
God’s stars ? Do you still love your child as when you 
clasped her to your bosom ? Will your Savior indeed 
be my Savior? or is this wild tide of sin to sweep me 
forever from mother and home ? ” 

Her soul was truly awakened, touched by the di- 
vine Spirit, although she groped long in the darkness, 
because it is sometimes such a tedious and protradled 
process to lead the human soul to simply “look and 
live” — to look , despite the wild tide of evil surging all 
around, and despite the black mysteries encountered at 
every step forward. 


38 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER III. 

HUMAN LIMITATIONS. 

One Name above all glorious names, 

With its ten thousand tongues; 

The everlasting sea proclaims, 

Echoing angelic songs. 

— Keblk. 

A few days later Julia Ashton assembled a number 
of her juvenile friends at her uncle’s residence for the 
purpose of giving them a pleasant entertainment. The 
whole house was thrown open for their enjoyment. 
The fair young hostess romped with the children in the 
parlor, halls, library, out in the beautiful grounds, in- 
venting games for their amusement. Now it is Blind- 
man’s Buff, now Puss in the Corner, now Hide and 
Seek, and at last Jumping the Rope out in the yard un- 
der the cedar’s shade. These amusements came to the 
little folks with increased relish, because “Miss Julia” 
played with them. Her personal presence dignified ev- 
ery game and increased its importance with the chil- 
dren. And when they left her at the setting of the sun, 
they all declared that they had had “a splendid time.” 

During this hour of recreation, and during the past 
days the great questions of God and sin . and herself 
were revolving in her mind. Even while amusing the 
children, while playing with them Puss in the Corner, 
or jumping the rope, there would come over her 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


39 


“A feeling of sadnoss mid longing, - 
That is not akin to pain; 

And resembles sorrow only 
As the mist resembles the rain.” 

Her young friends have all gone ; the sun is sinking 
wearily beneath the western mountains ; the young 
girl has wandered amidst the fragrant flowers, until 
darkness has settled down upon the city and the lights 
have flashed out upon the night one by one, and God 
has lighted his lamps of night in the upper regions. 
Again the poet’s words are in her mind, and express 
her feelings : 

•1 see th • lights of tin* village 

Oleum through the rain and the mist; 

And a feeling of sadness comes o’er _me. 

That my soul cannot resist;”* 

Only there is no “rain and mist” on this evening of 
merry sunny June. 

In her reverie there is a continual recurrence of her 
mother’s words, spoken upon her dying couch, and, at 
times, she almost fancies the sweet mother - spirit near 
her, fanning her flushed cheeks as with angel’s wings, 
then again all is dark and hopeless and wild. 

She was aroused to the consciousness of real sur- 
roundings by the voice of Will Mortimer, who perceiv- 
ing her deep pre - occupation of thought, sought to 
draw from her the cause of this pensiveness. 

“Oh, Will, it’s the same old subjedl. I cannot get 
matters adjusted in my mind on these religious ques- 
tions. There are so many things that seem so dark 
and unreasonable that it seems vain to try to solve 
them ; and yet, turning away from religion, everything 
seems still darker and blacker.” 

“Miss Julia, take my advice, and put the whole 
subjedl away. You may puzzle your brain until your 
head throbs with pain and it will do no good. You 


40 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


cannot understand it all, as your uncle assures you. 
Then why puzzle yourself about it? Drop the whole 
matter. Such is my conclusion.” 

“Your decision may be wise, Will. But somehow I 
cannot rest satisfied until I have thoroughly tested the 
matter for myself to see if there is any reality in relig- 
ion. Let us go and talk awhile with uncle, for he men- 
tioned some things at your last visit which have so ta- 
ken hold of me that I cannot rest. The}' repeat them- 
selves over and over in my mind ; they haunt me by 
day and by night. And do you know, Will, that my 
mother’s spirit has seemed to be hovering very near me 
of late ? ” 

“Miss Julia, I beg of you spare me the ordeal of 
another religious homily from Mr. Ashton, on subjects 
which he himself admits we cannot understand. I de- 
sire an evening with you.” 

“You would not disregard a lady’s request, would 
you, Will? I desire to be your client and have you as 
my attorney in this further attempt to reach some sort 
of a conclusion respecting these things.” 

Her bewitching feminine pleading of course prevail- 
ed. When did ever such a plea fail under such circum- 
stances ? Will Mortimer consented to represent his 
fair client faithfully in another investigation of ques- 
tions which she said must be settled one way or 
another in her mind. 

“For my part,” she said, when seated in the bright 
and cheerful library with Mr. Ashton, “I think it is the 
most perplexing thing in the world that we should be 
forced to say we do not understand some such impor- 
tant things in religion which meet us. If God had only 
told us about these things I would so joyfully seek to 
find my mother’s Savior.” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


41 


“My clear, God has not told you the nature of the 
chemical elements of water or how the oxygen and hy- 
drogen are blended by the currents of air or by the 
lightning’s flash ; but you do not hesitate to slake your 
thirst by the cooling draught. 

“The infinitely good Author of Nature and of the 
Bible has no doubt purposes to accomplish in the per- 
mission of sin. There are doubtless attributes of his 
character which could only be revealed to his created 
intelligences by the presence of moral evil.’’ 

“Do you not, sir, in taking that view of the mat- 
ter, charge sin upon God ? ’’ asked Will. 

“I do not intend to do so, Will. In what way do 
you think I have charged evil upon God?” asked the 
old gentleman kindly. 

“You have said that, in order to display his char- 
acter before the intelligent beings he has created, he 
has permitted some of them to sin. If he could have 
prevented sin, and did not do so, is he not responsible 
for its presence ?” 

“Clearly, Will, there is the real limit of our compre- 
hension. We have only to go there and stop, rest- 
ing in the two truths, which blend far up out of our 
sight, God is good and sin exists. Along here we must 
speak only as the divine Word speaks.” 

“The end to be accomplished,” continued Mr. Ash- 
ton, “ by the working together of all things , 1 the mor- 
al evil as well as the moral good, is principally the glo- 
ry of God, and secondarily the good of those who love 
him,” he concluded. 

“What you say, Mr. Ashton, reminds me of the 
question'and answer in the catechism , 2 which I learned 
years ago,” said Will. “It is asked, What is the chief 

2 Shorter Catechism, p. 1, Question 1. 


1 Horn, x : 28. 


42 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


end of man? and the answer is, To glorify God, and 
enjoy him forever.” 

After a slight pause, during which he noted the se- 
rious expression upon his niece’s features, the elder gen- 
tleman proceeded : 

“We would be guilty of great folly and presump- 
tion in saying what is the end of creation and of the 
race of man, if Revelation had not informed us. The 
manifestation of God’s glory is the greatest good. To 
behold his glory constitutes the bliss of heaven. To ex- 
hibit his glory will be the result of the unending an- 
guish of hell. All the unspeakable agony of those souls 
which are lost in consequence of moral evil will exhibit 
the glory of God in some way. All things were created 
by him and for him f that unto all principalities and 
powers he might reveal his glory . 2 We cannot add any 
thing to the glory of God, but we can display his glory 
in our lives, and all events and all things shall display 
his glory. How God’s glory will be revealed by the ru- 
in spread by moral evil I do not know, I cannot under- 
stand. That such will be the end accomplished I do not 
for a moment doubt.” 

“But, sir, is not that a most terrible conclusion?” 
asked Will. “Could not every ruined soul, in beholding 
the accomplishment of God’s purpose in the display of 
his glory, say, Why does God punish me if his glory is 
promoted by my life of iniquity ? Why does he find 
fault with the creatures of his own hand, who are but 
accomplishing his own will ? Sir, if this is the teaching 
of your system I am driven to throw the whole thing 
over - board. I am driven to skepticism ! ’ ’ 

“Which I am very sorry to hear you say, Will. It 
is a difficulty as old as the gospel itself, to which one 


1 Col. 1 : 10. 


2 Epli. 8 : 10. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


43 


of the inspired writers replies in these words : Nay, but, 
O, man, who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall 
the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast 
thou made me thus ? Hath not the potter power over 
the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto 
honor and another unto dishonor ? 1 We can only rest 
in the assurance, as we have so many proofs of the 
goodness of God, that the presence of moral evil and 
its unceasing conflict with good is entirely consistent 
with the divine goodness if we only had sufficient light 
upon the matter to understand it. We must rest upon 
God in simple faith and reliance.” 

The simple and implicit trust of this ripe Christian 
upon the goodness of God was beautiful, and made a 
strong impression upon Will and Julia, one of whom 
was well nigh in the jaws of skepticism and the other 
found herself devoutly longing for her uncle’s strong 
confidence in his Lord, to whom he so lovingly referred 
all the mysteries which confronted him in his religious 
life and Scripture studies. 

As there was a pause in the conversation, all tacit- 
ly agreeing that the limit of thought in this direction 
on the question before them had been reached, and that 
nothing remained but for each to accept the facFt and 
wait for additional light to understand it, Mr. Ashton 
slowly turned over a few leaves in his favorite volume, 
without any apparent object in view, and then closed 
it and replaced it upon the stand beside him, and took 
up a religious paper, saying, “Here, Julia, is something 
bearing upon the subjedl of which we have been speak- 
ing. Will you not be so kind as to read a few para- 
graphs for us ? ” 

She took the paper rather hesitatingly, and as she 


1 Rom. 9 : 20. 21. 


44 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


did so she looked a request at her friend, which he 
readily interpreted as meaning : 

“Will you not read in my stead ? ” 

“At your request I will read for you,” he said, and 
began reading : 

“ ‘There is a mighty power in truth. It stands like 
some great tower against which the shafts of error arc 
continually hurled, only showing more plainly its 
strength after each attack. Like some ancient rock in 
the ocean waste it raises itself triumphantly above the 
angry waters and stands unmoved as the waves and 
billows of error dash themselves against it. It lifts on 
high its beacon light, like some far -distant light-house, 
and reveals to the tempest - tossed mariners over life’s 
troubled sea the rocks and reefs of falsehood and error. 
As the solid phalanx of a mighty army, it presents a 
bold and impregnable front, against which the powers 
of evil may ply their heavy artillery, and spend all 
their fury, without destroying aught of its mighty 
‘power. 

“‘Indeed, this unceasing conflict with sin, though 
the cause of truth may be beaten back for a time, al- 
ways serves to more fully develop the power of truth. 
Ever since the entrance ot sin into the world there has 
been a raging conflict between truth and error. But in 
every such conflict there has been the bringing out into 
greater prominence of some truth. 

“ ‘A shameless, outrageous lie, which the serpent 
spoke against the word of the Lord God, introduced 
sin into the world. But, after many years, a glorious 
victory was accomplished, when the Son of God tri- 
umphed over the powers of evil, and brought life and 
immortality to light; when the seed of the woman 
bruised the head of the serpent. The truths which our 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


45 


Lord proclaimed and which he embodied, were bitterly 
opposed by the self-righteous Pharisees, and what was 
the result ? Ask of the succeeding centuries, and the re- 
ply corues thundering down the corridors of the past; 
If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to 
nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it ; 
lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.’ ” 

“Uncle! ’’ interrupted Julia, “that is the same decla- 
ration we were speaking of several days since. From 
the bold imagery used, I would judge the author of 
that extract to be an enthusiastic optimist, just ready 
to proclaim the millennium at hand. Well, I suppose 
we need to have the gloomy facts of pessimists present- 
ed as ballast for these enthusiastic fellows, who are 
const anth" telling us that the golden age is at hand, 
and that things are ever growing brighter. The wings 
of their imagination need weighting down by the stern 
facts which are marshalled by the opposite class of 
writers.” 

“My dear,” replied her uncle, “let us not judge too 
hastily of the status of this conflict between good and 
evil, truth and error. The author of the extract just 
read makes out a strong case in his presentation of 
glimpses of the history of truth. The author is none 
other than Dr. Prescott, of our little gity, who is al- 
ways careful in his statements.” 

“Of course, uncle, I did not know who the author 
was, and meant no disrespect in what I said. You 
know I generally speak my first thoughts and often 
am compelled to regret hasty expressions,” she said, 
with an arch look at her young friend. 

Noticing that the hands of the little French clock 
upon the mantel indicated the hour of half past ten, 
Will Mortimer arose to take his leave of his friends, 


46 


FROM ERRORS CHAINS. 


glad to get away from a subject which was giving him 
more and more uneasiness as he endeavored to more ef- 
fectually put it from him and rest quietly in his fancied 
liberal thought. As he left Mr. Ashton said to him : 

“Will, I am expecting to have a few friends with 
me tomorrow evening, and would be pleased to have 
you also present.” 

With a clouded brow, at the prospect of another 
religious interview, Will Mortimer uttered a hasty, “I 
thank you,” and was gone. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


47 


CHAPTER IV. 

A GROUP OF FRIENDS. 

Great souls by instinct to each other turn, 

Demand alliance, and in friendship burn. 

— Addison. 

The parlor of Ashton Hall, on the evening follow- 
ing the visit mentioned in the last chapter, under Ju- 
lia’s magic touches, wore a charming and inviting ap- 
pearance. It is another delightful June evening, and 
the air is laden with the sweet breath of flowers. On a 
stand in the parlor, convenient for reference, a few 
standard religious works have been carefully arrang- 
ed. The elaborate hanging -lamp sheds a soft mellow 
light in the room, and every thing is bright and cheer- 
ful. The brussels carpet seems rather brighter than 
usual under the soft lamp -light. The pidlures which 
decorate the walls seem to have received fresh touches 
from the artist’s pencil. Indeed, the whole interior of 
the cosy room is looking its best. 

Rich strains of music and song are floating out up-^ 
on the calm evening air, for Julia is pouring out her 
very soul in one of the soulful songs of Hayden as she 
awaits the arrival of the guests of the evening. Will 
Mortimer is the first to come. As he reaches the gate 
he is entranced by the melody which greets his ear. He 
does not enter at once, but is riveted to the spot, his 
soul drinking in the melody of the music. As the music 


4S 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


ceases, he involuntarily exclaims to himself, but half- 
aloucl: “What a strong and beautiful character she 
must possess ! That was equal to the oratorio of a 
real artist.” 

A few moments later he is standing beside the per- 
former, whose head is resting upon the key-board, and 
she is sobbing like a child, unmindful of his entrance. 

“What is the trouble with my little friend this eve- 
ning ? ” he asks gently. 

“How dare you, sir, enter unannounced, and intrude 
upon my quiet evening hour?” she asked, in mock in- 
dignation. Then representing her real self, she said : 

“I am overwhelmed with sadness, and cannot tell 
what manner of person I am. I must have such a de- 
fective character, for I fall infinitely below the feeling 
and religious enthusiasm which Hayden has embodied 
in this splendid composition. Oh, that I could attain 
to it ! But I can never be a real artist in music. I have 
so little soul to put into it.” 

“Without your knowledge, Miss Julia, I heard 
your rendition of this delightful symphony from Hay- 
den. That you put a great deal of soul into it I am 
sure, because of the effect produced — ” 

But before his sentence was finished she was gone, 
thoroughly dissatisfied with herself, a feeling quite nec- 
essary in order to the attainment of the highest excel- 
lence in any thing. Every one capable of high excellence 
in any sphere of life has, fixed before the mind, a stand- 
ard of absolute perfection, and strives with unwearied 
effort to reach that high ideal. To aim lower than this 
is to be satisfied with mediocrity. To aim high is the 
first requisite for high excellence. One may fall far be- 
low his aim, but if he aims high he will reach much 
higher than if he aimed low. One of the greatest men 


FROM KRKOK’S CHAINS. 


49 


ever known to the moral world said of himself, “1 
count not myself to have apprehended: but this one 
thing 1 do, forgetting those things which are behind 
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling 
of God in Christ Jesus. 1 ” 

A few minutes later, Mr. Ashton coming in, kindly 
greeted Will Mortimer, saying, “I am glad to see you 
with us this evening.” 

‘'Thank you, sir, I am always happy to share your 
hospitality, and, while 1 have a decided aversion, 
growing of late, to religious questions, I trust 1 shall 
not allow myself to be guilty of a breach of the propri- 
ety which is due you in vour charming home.” 

Dr. Prescott soon arrived, accompanied by Mr. Dix- 
on, one of the city pastors, who had heard of some of 
the topics which would probably be mentioned during 
the evening, and desired to be present, as he said, 
“merely as a listener.” 

“I am right glad to welcome you gentlemen this 
evening,” said Mr. Ashton heartily, whose piety was 
of that deep spiritual type which led him to recognize 
a Christian wherever he met one. 

In a short time Mr. Dixon felt entirely at ease in 
the pleasant parlor of Mr. Ashton, Dr. Prescott had 
often been a welcome visitor there before. 

Julia came in a little later, with a very serious ex- 
pression upon her sweet face, but was pleasant and 
agreeable to every guest, forgetting herself in her en- 
deavor to minister to the pleasure of her visitors, espe- 
cially Mr. Dixon, who was in her uncle’s home for the 
first time. 

“My niece, Dr. Prescott, has been mildly criticizing 

J Phil. 3 : 18, 14. 


no 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


your published article of a late date, but upon reflec- 
tion is inclined to be penitent ; vet 1 do not know to 
what extent she still thinks her criticisms well found- 
ed,” said Mr. Ashton to this gentleman. 

Julia began to grow somewhat rosy at this unex- 
pected sally of her uncle, but she crimsoned when Will 
Mortimer added : 

“Unless you are quite sure of your ground, sir, she 
will sustain her criticism ; for she completely routed 
me, horse, foot and dragoon, a few days since, on a 
question of grammar, and nothing was left lor me to 
do except to acknowledge myself in error.” 

“I have exercised the greatest care in my investiga- 
tion of the questions involved in that article, but, as I 
do not claim infallibility, 1 am ready to give impartial 
consideration to any criticism that Miss Julia has to 
offer,” said the doctor. 

“My so-called criticism was more a piece of pleas- 
antry than otherwise,” said Julia, “and really amounts 
to nothing. As Mr. Mortimer finished reading an ex- 
tract from it I merely remarked that, judging from the 
bold imagery used, the author must be an enthusiastic 
optimist, in immediate expectation of the millennium, 
or words to that effect. That is substantially all.” 

“My article may be open to your criticism, Miss Ju- 
lia, for I sometimes allow my fervor and imagination 
to so control me as to give high coloring to my lan- 
guage. But the fact is, I am neither an optimist nor a 
pessimist, rather, I should sav, I am, in some respects, 
both. As this matter has been brought to our notice, 
in order that we may conduct our conversation intelli- 
gently, let us endeavor to get a clear idea of both 
views. I will read an extract from a book which I find 
here upon the table of our host, showing the real opti- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


51 


mistie .view, as applied to the struggle between good 
and evil : 

“ ‘We do not belong to the great army of croakers. 
We do not believe that things are going to crash gene- 
rally, that the palisades are to tumble down and crash 
out Christianity, that we have fallen upon evil times, 
and that truth and virtue and goodness only walked, 
the earth in the good days of old. This to be sure, is 
the common way of putting it — but we do not like the 
way. “When I was a child,” exclaims grand - father, 
and sighs regretfully as he adds, “Ah! but those were 
the good old times;” and just so, when he was a child, 
his grand - father said the same thing, and his in turn 
before him. The truth is, way back in the genesis of 
the world — for Adam had his “old times” to look back 
upon — people have been grumbling About the good old 
times. 

“‘More is today being done for the Master than 
ever before. More numerous and more powerful agen- 
cies are being employed than ever before. There is more 
real humanity manifested in behalf of the destitute, the 
fallen, and the oppressed — more charity, more tolera- 
tion of opinion, for expressing which only a century 
ago men were sent to the stake, — more knowledge of 
God and his blessed Word than the world has ever seen 
before. 1 f it be claimed that Infidelity is abroad in sci- 
ence, it is sufficient to say that Infidelity has always 
chosen one form or another for its expression, and so 
far from regretting that it has chosen the grand name 
of Science under which to fight its battles, we rejoice 
that it has manifested itself in just that particular 
phase where it can take no refuge in indefinite abstrac- 
tions, but must stand the crucial test. 

“‘We believe, as in the past, so in the future, the 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


52 

world will grow better and better.’ says this writer. 
“I have read this extract,” continued Dr. Prescott, 
“to enable you to clearly understand the view of opti- 
mists. They are fond of quoting such words as these, 
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy moun- 
tain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the 
Lord, as the waters cover the sea i 1 the wilderness and 
the solitary place shall be glad for them ; and the des- 
ert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose : 2 ask of me, 
and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, 
and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy posses- 
sion . 3 They declare that, through the present agencies 
for evangelizing the world, piety will become so univer- 
sal that it will be said the kingdoms of this world are 
become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ , 4 
who shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the 
river unto the ends of the earth. 5 ” 

“Such words do indeed give a bright picture of the 
future of truth and righteousness,” said Mr. Dixon. 

“True, sir,” replied the doctor, “but, upon examin- 
ation of the views of the pessimists, you will find alto- 
gether a different picture presented.” 

“I am apprised of that, and, if the rest of the com- 
pany approve, we would now be pleased to have a full 
statement of their side of the question,” said Mr. Dixon. 

Pausing a moment to allow any one an opportuni- 
ty of speaking, Dr. Prescott continued : 

“All such words as I have mentioned pessimists tell 
us are to be limited by the connection in which they 
stand. In each case they find some expression which 
gives a dark setting to these sparklihg declarations, 
which to them indicates that the fulfillment of these 
bright prophecies lies beyond the second coming of the 

1 Jsa. 11 : y. 2 Isa. 3ft : 1 . :) Psa. 2 : s. 4 Rev. ll : |f v 5 p sa . 7.; : s. 




FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


53 


ChrivSt of God. One of these writers tells us that, while 
the optimists declare that the earth shall be full of the 
knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea, 
they forget that this very declaration is preceded bv a 
determination of the Supreme Power to smite the earth 
with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his 
lips to slay the wicked . 1 While rejoicing that the wil- 
derness and.the solitary place shall be glad, and the de- 
sert rejoice and blossom as the rose, optimists lose 
sight of the dark setting that God shall come with ven- 
geance, even God with a t'ecompense, and will come 
and save . 2 So the pessimists are ever mindful of the 
dark settings of prophetic words. Permit me to read 
an extract from one on their side of the question : 

“ ‘There are more unconverted persons in the world 
today than ever before. So long as sinners increase far 
more rapidly than saints, will some one tell how long 
it will take to convert the world ? At the rate of ad- 
vancement for the last eighteen hundred years the end- 
less cycles of eternity would not be sufficient to furnish 
the requisite ages for the conversion of the world, 
whereas the evangelization of the world might be ac- 
complished in a very few years. If Christ is not to re- 
turn until this world is converted by the preaching of 
the gospel, he will never return until eternal ages roll 
away. 

“ ‘But, is there not more consecrated wealth in the 
churches today than ever before? Yes,’ continues this 
writer, ‘and more anconsecrated wealth ; more temper- 
ance in the churches, and more intemperance in the 
world ; a more wholesale condemnation of the liquor 
traffic, and more* liquor made and sold than ever be- 
fore; more evangelism, and more diabolism; more the- 


1 Jsa. II : 4. 


■J Isa. U5 : 4. 


54 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


ism, and more atheism; more religion, and more relig- 
iosity ; more piety, and more impiety ; more of the spir- 
it of godliness, and more who have the form of godli- 
ness without the power thereof; more zeal without 
knowledge, and more knowledge without zeal ; never 
so many who honor the Christian name, and never so 
many who disgrace it ; never were the churches so alive 
to missions, and never was the mystery of yiiquity so 
full of amazing energy; never so much of the Spirit 
of Christ, and of the spirit of anti- Christ.’ 

“In support of these statements facts and figures 
are introduced. As some of these are quite interesting, 
will you kindly read a few of them for us, Mr. Morti- 
mer ?’’ asked the doctor, handing over to his young 
friend the pamphlet from which he had been reading. 

Recovering from the embarrassment produced by 
this unexpected request, Will Mortimer read clearly 
and distinctly : 

“‘A ship recently sailed from Boston to the Congo 
region of Africa. It had on board one hundred thous- 
and gallons of rum, and one missionary ! How long 
will it take such a Christendom to convert the world ?’ 

“‘On great occasions it is quite common to hear 
representatives of religious denominations boasting 
with the materialist and the demagogue of the prog- 
ress of the age, its increased morality, and its unparal- 
leled social and religious advancement. 

“‘Look for a moment at the morality of the two 
foremost Christian nations on the globe, Great Britian 
and the United States. Carefully collected statistics 1 
give the following results in regard to the proportion 
of murders to the population: England, two hundred 
and thirty murders to ten millions of population ; Bel- 

1 Set* Mulhalt’-s Statistical Dictionary. 


from error’s chains. 55 

gium, two hundred and forty; France, two hundred 
and sixty - five ; Scandinavia, two hundred and sixtv- 
six; Germany, two hundred and seventy -nine ; Ireland, 
two hundred and ninety -four; Austria, three hundred 
and ten; Russia, three hundred and twenty -five; Italy, 
five hundred and four; Spain, five hundred and 
thirty -three ; the United States, eight hundred and fifty 
murders for every ten millions of people, or four thous- 
and five hundred and ten murders every year ! 

“‘It appears then that nearly four times as many 
murders are committed among the same number of peo- 
ple here as in England ; while in Italy, once prominent 
as the land of assassins, and in Spain, equally notori- 
ous for bloody affrays ending in death, fewer persons 
are now slain with malice prepense , in the ratio of pop- 
ulation, than in our self- lauded and Protestant coun- 
try.’” 

“Oh! please do not read anv more of those dread- 
ful statistics of crime,” exclaimed Julia. “They harrow 
up my very soul.” 

“Very well, Miss Julia; we will permit Mr. Morti- 
mer to stop there,” said the doctor, “and agree that 
the writer has made out his case. There is also this to 
be remembered, that, b} r carefully collected statistics, it 
is proved that crime has increased more rapidly than 
population in England and America, and this in spite 
of all the missionary agencies and expenditures of mon- 
ey of the churches. Such is the dark picture of the 
pessimists.” 

“The saddest feature of the case,” said Mr. Dixon, 
“is the well known fact that the missionary efforts of 
Christians are well nigh paralyzed by tradesmen from 
Christian countries, who, impelled by their cupidity, 
are willing to make merchandise out of the debauchery 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


C6 

of the heathen. It is an everlasting shame to the Eng- 
lish government that a bloody war was inaugurated 
against China in order to force upon the natives the 
opium trade. The people were debauched that mer- 
chants might grow rich. It is an everlasting shame to 
England and America that millions of gallons of rum 
are constantly being sent to Africa and other nations, 
that men may grow rich on the 'ruin of the nations.” 

“Such exhibitions of cupidity are indeed deplor- 
able,” said Mr. Ashton. 

“I wish to ask you, sir,” said Julia, “how pessi- 
mists understand the bright prophecies of the future 
glorious triumph of good?” 

“They teach,” said Dr. Prescott, “that the world 
and the churches are to continue to grow worse until 
the second visible personal coming of the Son of God, 
whieh will end the present age; that it is not taught 
nor to be expected that the whole world will be con- 
verted to religion, or that universal righteousness and 
peace will prevail before the return of the Lord ; that 
his coming will secure the fulfillment of the.se bright 
prophecies, the downfall of anti-Christ, the ingather- 
ing of Israel, the completion of the time of the Gentiles, 
the resurrection of the dead in Christ, the transfigura- 
tion of his living saints, and inaugurate the period of 
millennial blessedness.” 

“Such,” continued the doctor, “are pre- millennial 
sentiments, or the teaching that our Lord will come 
again in person before the millennium. The opposite 
view, or post -millennialism, is that his second coming 
will be at the close of the millennium, Both views are 
beset with some difficulties. 

“Pre-millennialists, who are also pessimists, teach 
that there will be only a partial resurrection at our 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Lord’s coining, that the domination of wickedness will 
become more and more appalling until that glorious 
appearing, that for a thousand years after that event 
the gospel will achieve wonderful successes in the con- 
version of human souls.” 

“I am compelled to dissent,” said Mr. Ashton, 
“from some of these pre- millennial views which you 
have mentioned, sir. While it seems to be a case made 
out, that the world is growing worse, and the church- 
es are largely losing their saving influence, I think 
there is to be a resurrection of the primitive vigor and 
spiritual power of Christianity, and that men will be 
raised up who will exhibit all the zeal and spiritual en- 
ergy of Peter, Paul, John, and the other apostles. In a 
figure, it may be said that these men have been raised 
from the dead, just as John went before the Christ in 
the spirit and power of Elijah, and, in prophecy, was 
called Elijah. The only words of Scripture in which 
there is any reference to two resurrections 1 are a por- 
tion of a description, in high -wrought prophetic im- 
agery, of the visions which passed before the seer of 
Patinos. Other words 2 relied upon are indeterminate.” 

“I quite agree with you, sir,” said the doctor. 
“There are difficulties attending the view of a partial 
resurrection. As the opinions of all who think on the 
question of the final result of the conflict between good 
and evil, are modified by their opinions as to the resur- 
rection of the dead and the second coming of Christ, it 
would be well for us to get fixed clearly in our minds 
what these differences are, though I must confess my 
conviction that there has been a great deal of specula- 
tion on these subjects.” 


1 Rev. 20 : 5. 


2 2 Tbess. 4 : 16. 


58 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER V. 

A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE. 

The last loud trumpet’s wondrous sound ■ 

Shall through the rending tombs rebound, 

And wake the nations under ground. 

-Eaklof RosOojimos. 

“Why does my little girl seem so sad this evening?’ ’ 
asked Mr. Ashton, during a pause in the conversation, 
as he observed his beloved niece at times greatly mov- 
ed by some great inward struggle. 

“I did not know, uncle, that I manifested any spe- 
cial sadness this evening. If you have observed any 
traces of sadness I suppose they are the result of a con- 
sciousness that I am a stranger to all personal interest 
in these topics of which you have been speaking. It is 
only a passing cloud over my spirits caused by the 
thought that I am far away from Jesus, my mother’s 
Savior,” .she said, with pathetic earnestness. 

“My dear, you may be speedily brought near by 
the blood of Christ. You may at once be made a mem- 
ber of the household' of faith. The blood of Jesus Christ 
God’s Son cleanseth us from all sin. Tenderly he says, 
Come unto me, all ve that labor, and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. Trust in Jesus of Nazareth 
as your Savior.” 

“Ah, me! if I only could! But I can not /” sighed 
the young lady. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


59 


“Listen, Miss Julia,” said Dr. Prescott, “to these 
loving words of assurance, Him that cometh unto me 
I will in no wise cast out ; Seek, and ye shall find.” 

Young Mortimer’s soul was photographed upon 
his features during this conversation. Deep anxiety for 
his friend was written upon his face, and he resolved to 
improve the first opportunity in persuading her to put 
away these troublesome thoughts of religion. With a 
frown gathering upon his brow he arose, and said : 

“Gentlemen, I protest against the further infliction 
of these gloomy and forbidding themes upon the atten- 
tion of this young lady. I do not believe it is right ! I 
do not believe it is humane ! My profound respect for 
my kind and venerable host forbids the utterance of 
m\ r growing conviction that this system which you are 
discussing is — ” 

He was interrupted by a gesture of deprecation 
from Julia, who said: 

“Will, you are a gentleman. Respect a lady’s re- 
quest. Be calm. I desire to, I must , hear the end of this 
matter, regardless of consequences.” 

Now quite calm and self-possessed, she said : 

“Dr. Prescott, I will try to believe on him. I cannot 
do so now. I beg you not to allow me to interrupt 
3 r our conversation. I must hear more about these 
things. Perhaps I may receive light as you talk of 
these important matters.” 

“Your spiritual safety, Miss Julia, is of infinitely 
more consequence than our conversation on any theme 
whatever,” said the doctor, “and, speaking for each of 
these devout gentlemen, I assure you of our sympathy 
and that our prayer shall be that he who commanded 
the light to shine out of darkness may shine into your 
heart to give the light of the knowledge of his blessed 


60 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


salvation. It is our earnest desire that you may speed- 
ily enjoy this divine light.” 

“May the Lord become to you, my dear, a sun and 
shield ; may his tender mercies fill your heart with 
sweet peace,” said her uncle. 

“Thank you, uncle. Now I beg that no further ref- 
erence be made to me. Will you not proceed, Dr. Pres- 
cott, to give us clearer views of the subjects of which 
you were speaking ? ” 

“I do not desire to pursue a line of conversation 
that is distasteful to any one present.” 

“I assure you, doctor, of my penitence for my has- 
ty speech, and of my desire that you yield to the wish 
of our fair hostess,” said Will Mortimer, resuming his 
seat. 

“Then I will continue,” said the doctor. “The 
word millennium is from a word meaning a thousand . 
It is used to designate a period of time in the future of 
the religion of Christ, of a thousand years duration, 
during which the evil influence of Satan will be greatly 
restrained, and, in consequence of this restraint, relig- 
ion will achieve great victories over the hearts of men. 
Truth and righteousness will prevail, and the great 
majority of the human race will accept Christ as their 
Savior. 

“This bright hope is based upon these words of the 
seer of Patmos , 1 I saw an angel come down from heav- 
en, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great 
chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, 
that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and 
bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the 
bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon 
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till 

1 Rev. 20 : 1 — 3. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


61 


the thousand years he fulfilled. It is during this thous- 
and. years that all those who were beheaded for the 
witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who 
had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neith- 
er had received his mark upon their foreheads or in 
their hands, are to live and reign with Christ. The rest 
of the dead live not again until the thousand y^ears are 
finished. This is the first resurrection . 1 

“Those who think that the second visible coming 
of our Lord will take place at the end of this period 
are called post -millennialists, and are optimists. That 
is, they believe that the world and the churches will 
continue to grow better until the second coming of 
Christ. Some of them l^elieve that the great tide of 
crime, which is now surging over the world, may con- 
tinue until the binding of Satan, and the first or spirit- 
ual resurrection, and that then the tide will turn, and 
righteousness will prevail.” 

“What is the reason, sir, for supposing that this 
first resurrection is spiritual rather than literal?” ask- 
ed Mr. Dixon. 

“It is that some Scriptures seem to indicate that 
there will be but one literal general resurrection, and 
that the second coming of Christ is immediately asso- 
ciated with that event.” 

“Will you mention for us some such Scriptures?” 
asked Mr. Ashton. 

“The second visible, personal coming of Christ is 
declared by angels, thus, Ye men of Galilee, why stand 
ye here gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus, which 
is taken up from you into heaven, 'shall so come in like 
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven . 2 Those 
who remain alive in the world at this coming are not 

1 Rev. 20 : 4, 5. 2 Acts 1 : 11. 


62 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


to go before, or have any priori!}" over, those who 
have fallen asleep in Christ. For the Lord himself shall 
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of 
the arch -angel, and with the trump of God: and the 
dead in Christ shall rise first — that is, before the glori- 
fication of those who are then alive — then we who are 
alive and remain shall be caught up together with 
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so 
shall we ever be with the Lord . 1 

“This coming of the Lord is associated, in the 
words mentioned, with a resurrection. This resurrec- 
tion is spoken of as a general rising from the dead. 
Many of them who sleep in the dust of the earth shall 
awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame 
and everlasting contempt . 2 We shall not all sleep, but 
we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling 
of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall 
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and 
we shall be changed . 3 The hour is coming in which all 
that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the return- 
ing Lord, and shall come forth ; they that have done 
good, to the resurrection of life; and the\" that haA^e 
done eA r il to the resurrection of condemnation . 4 ” 

“That the resurrection will be general, of the right- 
eous and wicked simultaneously, seems to be implied in 
our Lord’s account of the future general judgment,’’ 
•said Mr. Ashton. 

Mr. Dixon being requested, read in a clear, rythmi- 
cal voice, the twenty - fifth chapter of Matthew’s gos- 
pel. The scene of the division of the righteous and 
wicked, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, 
was made to pass in review before the little company, 
and produced a solemnity upon all except Will. His 

1 1 Thes. 4 : 14, 15, 16. 2 Dan. 12: 2. 3 1 Cor. 15: 51, 52. 4 John 5 : 28, 29. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


63 


pugnacity was aroused, and lie was stoutly resisting 
all serious impressions. 

“I am admonished of the lateness of the hour,” 
said Dr. Prescott, “but, before we separate, let us sum 
up the results of our investigation. Evil is now unques- 
tionably getting the better of good in the struggle, and 
will continue to do so until the first resurrection — that 
of spiritual forces, — and the limiting of Satanic influ- 
ence, and, possibly, by a spiritual coming of Christ. 
There are two comings spoken of by our Lord in his 
great prophecy , 1 one in the destruction of Jerusalem, 
and one final personal coming. Unless there be such a 
coming taught, then these words, when the Son of 
man cometh shall he find faith on the earth ? 2 will give 
trouble. Alter this limitation of Satanic influence, and 
resurrection of spiritual forces, the successes of religion 
will be wonderfully great, and the brightest dreams of 
optimists will be realized. 

“This golden era of piety may be hastened by the 
consecrated zeal of Christians. Seeing that the present 
constitution of Nature shall be dissolved, what manner 
of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and 
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the 
day of God . 3 

“Then will come the end of the present age. The 
Lord will come the second time in person ; the resurrec- 
tion of the dead will take place ; and the whole count- 
less throng of humanity will be gathered before the 
great white throne for the grand assizes of the last 
day. I am aware of the difficulties which beset this 
view, but it seems to more fully harmonize with the in- 
spired Word than the opposite view. 

“There is no doubt as to the final issue of the con- 

1 Matt. -Chapters 24, and 25. 2 Luke 18 : 8. 3 2 Peter 3 : 11, 12. 


64 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


flict between good and evil. All along the ages also 
there have been important victories of truth over er- 
ror, in special engagements, as I endeavored to show 
in my published article, which was criticized, by my fair 
young friend here. Of these topics I must not now 
speak. Perhaps some future opportunity may offer it- 
self for their consideration.” 

Dr. Prescott and Mr. Dixon took their leave. Will 
Mortimer tarried a while at Ashton Hall. 

“Miss Julia, it is not yet late, and the night is ex- 
cellent. Let us walk out amongst the flowers,” he sug- 
gested. 

As they stolled through the lovely grounds, and en- 
joyed the perfume - laden breezes, young Mortimer said 
to his companion : 

“My friend, let me beg you to abate your enthusi- 
asm in this religious cant to which you have been sub- 
jected recently. You should not bother your sweet lit- 
tle head about these things. They will rob you of your 
vivacity and glow of spirits, and unfit you for the full 
enjoyment of life.” 

“Will, I am surprised at you,” she said, stopping 
and withdrawing’ her hand from his arm, and then re- 
placing it. “Did I not hear you, only a few days since, 
arguing religious questions with uncle, taking for 
granted the truth of the Bible ? ” * 

“True, you did. But I only assumed such a posi- 
tion in order to converse with your uncle. To prove 
the utter emptiness of the whole thing just look at 
nine -tenths of professing Christians. They are just like 
the rest of us poor sinners. I would advise vou to 
throw the whole thing over -board.” 

“To prove its reality, Will, just look at my uncle 
and other monuments of its power. My sweet mother 


FROM error’s chains. 65 

too was sustained by it in the dark hour of death. Do 
vou reject all money because there are counterfeit coins 
and bank notes in circulation ? ” 

“There are some such cases, I admit. But they on- 
ly prove the tenacity with Which men and women oft- 
en hug sweet delusions to their bosoms. But, after all, 
I confess to you, Julia, there is one thing, in my present 
attitude ot declared freedom from all delusions, that 
marrs all the pleasures of my life.” 

“Indeed !” replied his friend. “What is that ? ” 

“It is this, Julia. I am afraid the Bible is true. If 
I could know certainly that death is an eternal sleep, I 
should be happy and my joy would be complete. But 
here is the thorn that pierces me ; this is the sword that 
enters my very soul : if the Bible is true, I am ruined. 
But the Bible is not true. It can hot be true : it is im- 
possible for it to be true!” he exclaimed excited^. 
‘‘Have not the greatest thinkers of the world exposed 
its hollow pretensions, and ridiculous claims, and the 
absurdities of its miracles ? ” he asked almost fiercely. 

“Take care, Will,” she replied. “You are on danger- 
ous ground. Would it not be better to do as I intend 
to do — examine this whole question de novo? But, lis- 
ten ! I hear the voices of two persons who seem to be 
enjoying their own conversation very much. Would it 
be very wicked for us to be still here and eaves -drop 
just a little as they pass ? ” 

Two young men had been out calling, and were re- 
turning quite late. The}' were walking very leisurely 
and stopped a few moments near Mr. Ashton’s gate be- 
fore separating. This is the fragment of conversation 
heard from them : 

“I tell you, Gus, Dr. Monteith is one of the most 
pathetic men I ever heard.” 


66 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“That fact has also struck me,” replied the young 
man addressed. “Why, Tom, almost before I know it, 
I find myself weeping under his talks like a baby. That 
reminds me. One of our street gamin was in the store 
this morning. Balancing himself on the arm ot a large 
chair, he said : ‘Me ’n one o’ my chums went to hear 
Dr. Monteith last night. I met him ’fore night and ask- 
ed him where he wer’ goin’ to night. He said, to the 
theatre. I said, he’d better come an’ go with me to 
hear Dr. Monteith. He said, no he wer’ goin’ to the 
theatre. I bet him my ole hat if he ’d go an’ hear the 
doctor he’d make him cry. He took my bet an’ we 
went to church. After a while, when the doctor got in- 
to his feelin’ talk, I felt the tears runnin’ down my face 
like buckshot ; an’ I turned an’ looked aroun’ at my 
chum an’ he wer’ crvin’ just like a spanked chile. I kin- 
der hunched him and says, what ’d I tell you ? He says, 
wipin’ his eyes, it’s not wot he says that makes me 
cry, but the way he says it.’ Somehow, Tom,” contin- 
ued the young man, “the way he says things, or some- 
thing else about the man impresses me stangely and 
wonderfully,” and they passed on in different direc- 
tions. 

“By the way, Will, have you heard Dr. Monteith ?” 
asked Julia. 

“I must confess I have not, Miss Julia. I have been 
pressed with business since he hus been here.” 

“Tomorrow is Sunday, Will. Suppose you go and 
hear him for yourself.” 

“Perhaps I may. It is a lady’s request, 3^ou know. 
But I suppose it will be the same old religious cant of 
everybody being on a race to perdition, with perhaps a 
spice of real enthusiasm thrown in by the preacher. By 
the way, I told you a few nights since that I had news 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


67 


from your cousin, Harry Burton. You so completely 
routed me on that question of grammar that the news 
from Harry entirely slipped my memory. So much for 
your valor for pure English ! ” 

“Oh, Will, do hush! And listen to me; if you re- 
gard a lady’s wish, do not ever again refer to that im- 
. pertinence of mine. But what is it about Harry? I 
am quite anxious to hear.” 

“Well, having a very great regard for Harry, and 
an appreciation of his real worth, I warned him 
against the temptations of rail -road life, and begged 
him not to fall into any of the bad habits which he • 
would see all around him. I also begged him to re- 
member the life and example of the noble Stephen Gi- 
rard, who exhibited such heroic self-sacrifice during the 
terrible yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, in 1793, 
and who, in founding the college which bears his name, 
stipulated that no canting minister or ecclesiastic of 
any sect should ever be allowed to visit the grounds 
under any pretext whatever, that all youth instructed 
there might be unhampered by any strait-laced creed. 
So I requested Harry to stand aloof from all such stuff, 
and be a man , in all the nobility and grandeur of real 
manhood. 

“He writes that his run is along a stretch of beau- 
tiful country", through mountains, by^ huge boulders of 
granite, along the beautiful serpentine Seneca, in sight 
of ever - memorable Fort Hill, the home of one of Amer- 
ica’s greatest statesmen, over clear mountain streams, 
through smiling farms ; but that he is too busy" to en- 
joy it except in brief snatches. He expresses his sur- 
prise that I should be so far ‘off’ in my" estimate of 
Christianity, and describes a strange feeling which 
comes over him ever and anon, and fills him with the 


68 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


most intense desire to be a Christian. His run takes 
him he says almost in sight of his own home, where he 
knows a loving mother is offering prayers for her ab- 
sent boy’s safety and welfare.” 

“Thank you, Will, for this belated information you 
have given me from Harry. Now, listen to this request 
from me, if you claim to be my friend. Do not seek to 
turn Harry aside from any thing that promises any 
help to him in his perilous position. If he can get any 
help out of Christianity, by all means give him the ad- 
vantage of that help. Here is a Marchal Neil rose-bud 
•which you may carry to }^our sanctum to shed its 
sweetness and beauty over those musty tomes which 
you are supposed to be delving into day and night. 
You will observe my request with reference to Harry ?” 

“Certainly! If it is your wish that he should fall 
in with the Christian delusion, and fight his own way 
through, I shall not further oppose your wish.” 

A few minutes later Will Mortimer handed his com- 
panion up the steps, and into the door, and sought the 
solitude of his own room to think, and perchance to 
dream over the things which had been forced upon his 
attention during the evening. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


69 


CHAPTER VI. 

“OH, GALILEAN, T'HOU HAST CONQUERED ! ” 


A prize with peerless glories bright, 

Which shall new luster boast, 

When victor’s wreaths and monarch’s gems 
Shall blend in common dust. 

— Ox,d Hymn. 

A week has passed since the extended conversation 
at Ashton Hall, mentioned in the last two chapters. 
Dr. Monteith has been holding services twice daily in 
Dr. Prescott’s church, of which Mr. Ashton is a mem- 
ber. As requested by Julia, Will Mortimer went to the 
services on the previous Sunday but has not been since, 
and it is Sunday again, near the middle of merry June. 

In her class in Sunday school Julia Ashton sat rath- 
er listless and pale, but disclaimed any physical indis- 
position. But she was sick — sick at heart — over- 
whelmed with a feeling of isolation, and deeply burden- 
ed -with a sense of sin — desiring the aid of a divine 
Helper and Comforter, but not knowing just how to 
secure this help. 

The school during this year was not using the in- 
ternational lessons, but was studying, in all the class- 
es, the gospel of John, by the guidance of a series of 
questions prepared by Dr. Prescott. 

On this Sunday the questions were on the parable 
of the Good Shepherd, which came several months 


70 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


later (in September) in the international series. Julia’s 
teacher, Mrs. Crumpton, was a sweet Christian wo- 
man, who threw her whole soul into the lesson, and en- 
thusiastically presented the strong love of the Shep- 
herd, as exhibited in the different traits pictured in the 
parable. 

“He knows his sheep by name , we are taught. 
Thompson, in ‘The Land and the Book,’ says that to- 
day the shepherds of Palestine know their sheep by 
name. How delightful to remember that our blessed 
Lord, the Good Shepherd, knows all of his sheep by 
name. Highest and best of all, the Shepherd lays 
down his life for the sheep. This is said of the divine 
Shepherd only, though it may be possible that the east- 
ern shepherds hazard their lives for the sake of their 
sheep. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet 
peradventure for a good man some would even dare to 
die. But God commendeth his love toward us in that 
while we were yet sinners Christ died for us . 1 ” 

Mrs. Crumpton was in tears. But Julia sat mo- 
tionless and pale, as though her very heart had frozen, 
yet feeling unutterable anguish because she could not 
feel. 

As the class separated she whispered, almost hiss- 
ed, into her teacher’s ear, “Pray for me ! ” 

It is needful to give some little account of the evan- 
gelist’s sermon, for that, as well as this Sunday school 
lesson, had contributed to the extreme sadness of Julia, 
and had brought about a crisis elsewhere in the con- 
gregation. 

It seemed that the preacher had her case especially 
in mind, for the words spoken seemed as well adapted 
to her state of mind as though intended for her and for 

1 Rom. 5 : 7, 8. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


71 


her alone. In seasons of darkness and sorrow and con- 
scious guilt the mind is in a proper mood to fancy that, 
in every private or public admonition, its secrets are 
known and its wounds are probed. It is sometimes so 
morbidly sensitive that it indignantly repels all in- 
struction as offensively personal. 

In somewhat of this state of mind was Julia Ash- 
ton when the preacher announced as his text these 
words; “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will 
sustain thee . 1 ” He said something like this : 

“Joy and sorrow are strangely mingled and blend- 
ed in the fitful drama of life. In the history of every 
heart are to be found lights and shadows ; the bright 
lines of hope, and the dark tracings of despondency, 
and, anon, of black despair. Life is made up of the al- 
ternation between unspeakable blessings and mercies, 
on the one hand ; and the dark adverse circumstances, 
which embitter life, on the other hand. 

“With the infallible Book of inspiration in our 
hands, and with the hand -writing of God in Nature 
before our eyes, we are shut up to the view, that joy 
and sorrow are thus blended in life by the wise and lov- 
ing Father himself. For surely he, without whose 
knowledge not even a sparrow falls to the ground, 
looks upon, and arranges, every event in human life. 
He who opens his hand, and satisfies the wants of ev- 
ery living thing, is not by any means forgetful of the 
pain of his creatures. 

“To the weary and burdened soul the encourage- 
ment contained in these words is most consoling and 
acceptable. Bowed beneath a heavy load of anguish, 
how pleasant to hear these sweet notes of inspired mel- 
ody ; Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sus- 

1 Psa. 55 : 22. 


72 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


tain thee. How? Come unto me, all ye that labor, 
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 1 ” 

“Ah ! if I only could ! if I only knew how ! ” sighed 
Julia, almost overcome with emotion. 

“Does your soul groan beneath a burden of sin?” 
continued the minister. “Do you, with all your trans- 
gressions about you, feel as did the sweet Psalmist of 
Israel ; Mine iniquities are gone over mine head : as a 
heavy burden they are too heavy for me ? 2 Does that 
load of sin weigh upon you with such crushing weight 
that it threatens to sink you beneath the dark waves 
of eternal woe? If you be thus burdened with sin, oh, 
Christless soul ! cast your burden of sin upon the Lord 
and he will sustain you. He alone is able to sav to the 
burdened sinner, Though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be as white as snow, though they be red like 
crimson, they shall be as wool . 3 

“It were vain and a thousand follies to think of 
casting thy load of iniquities upon the wealth thou 
wouldst heap up. Ye were not, ye cannot be, redeem- 
ed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . 4 See the 
man who thought to purchase of the apostles the gift 
of God. Hear Peter’s scathing rebuke : Thy money per- 
ish with thee, because thou hast thought the gift of 
God may be purchased with money. Thou hast no 
part nor lot in this matter. For I perceive that thou 
art still in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of ini- 
quity . 5 See a wealthy young ruler approach the Son 
of God and say, Good Master, what good thing shall 
I do, that I may inherit eternal life ? Of the command- 
ments he said, All these have I kept from my youth up : 
what lack I yet ? He is told to go and sell all that he 
has and give to the poor~ and he shall have treasure in 

1 Mat. 11 : 28. 2 Psa. 33 : 4. 3 Isa. 1 : 18. 4 1 Pet. 1 : 18. 5 Acts 8 : 20, 21. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


73 


heaven, and then to follow the great Prophet. He is 
exceedingly sorrowful, for he is very rich, and we hear 
nothing further of his religious efforts. He was cast- 
ing his burden upon his riches. It is easier for a camel 
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man 
to enter into the kingdom of heaven, is our Lord’s com- 
ment on his case . 1 Though all the riches of the Orient, 
all the gold of Ophir, all the fabled wealth of Croesus, 
be laid at your feet, all can not purchase you a pass- 
port into heaven. With the wealth of the universe vou 
can never drive a bargain with death, nor bribe the 
judgment of the Almighty. 

“It were equally foolish to think of casting the bur- 
den of sin upon our morality. To look thither for re- 
lief or support is to add new weight to the burden, for 
by the law is the knowledge of sin . 2 Wending our way 
to morality we reap only the flashings of Sinai, and 
hear its fearful anathemas. As many as are of the 
works of the law are under the curse. Cursed is every 
one that continueth not in all things written in the 
book of the law to do them . 3 

“The burden of sin is cast on the Lord by accepting 
him who is appointed to bear sin. He knew no sin, but 
was made sin for us that we might become God’s right- 
eousness in him . 4 He was wounded for our transgress- 
ions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastise- 
ment of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes 
we are healed. Like sheep we have gone astray : we 
have turned every one to his own way : and the Lord 
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all . 5 He is the great 
Sin - bearer. 

“Are you overwhelmed with a burden of duty? Is 
the weakness of the flesh such that, when you would 

1 Mat. 19: 16, 20—23. 2 Rom. 8: 20. 3 Gal. 3: 10. 4 2Cor. 5: 21. 5 Isa. 53: 4—6. 


74 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


follow the Lord in the path of duty, it is as a great 
burden, or a ponderous cross ? Cast your burden of du- 
ty upon the Lord, for he cares for you. His omnipo- 
tent hand can sustain us in the heaviest of duties. 

“A crushing burden of duty rested upon the Lord’s 
prophet. Yet forty days and Ninevah shall be destroy- 
ed 1 was made the burden of his message. He tried to 
run from it, but was finally helped in bearing this bur- 
den of duty. 

“Moses received the same divine support when call- 
ed upon to bear the crushing weight of the duty of be- 
coming Israel’s deliverer. His excuses were all over- 
ruled and God gave him strength for the burden . 2 

“The duty of rebuking the king for an unlawful al- 
liance with his brother’s wife was laid upon the fore- 
runner of our Lord. Though it caused his imprison- 
ment and death, he quailed not, but took up the bur- 
den, and cast it upon the Lord, and was sustaind. 

“Let no child of God shrink from the heaviest of du- 
ties, for the Lord himself offers aid. Unassisted, you 
may be weak — are indeed weak and helpless — but, like 
an ap stle, you can do all things through Christ who 
strengthens you . 3 Cast your burdens daily upon the 
Lord. Then when your locks are silvered over by the 
frost of age, and when you stand upon the boundary 
between two worlds, you may say, with the aged and 
travel - worn pilgrim : 

l A weary way I ’ve traveled, mid dangers, toil and strife, 

Bearing many a burden; struggling for my life; 

But now my journey ’s ended ; my toil will soon be o’er; 

I ’m kneeling at the threshold; my hand is on the door.’ 

“Is any heart groaning beneath its load of sorrow? 
Has death ever entered your dwelling, and snapped 
asunder the tenderest ties of your being? Have you 

1 Jonah 1:2. 2 Exodus 4 : 10—17. 3 Phil. 4 : 13. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


75 


ever been brought face to face with the winding sheet, 
the coffin, the grave ? Cast your burden of sorrow up- 
on the Lord. 

“When hearts are breaking under the heavy hand 
of God in affliction, what would stay them from rush- 
ing to the very verge of madness, were it not that they 
are urged to cast these heavy burdens upon the Lord ? 

“Look at Judson, on his voyage to America, for 
the improvement of health, as he and his loved ones 
drew near the ‘green islet’ of St. Helena. The gentle 
wife had poured out her soul for the last time in the 
melody of poetry, and, like the song of the dying swan, 
the last strains were the sweetest. The raptures of her 
soul, in contemplating the happy reunion above, found 
expression in these beautiful words : 

‘Bat higher shall our raptures glow, 

On yon celestial plain, 

When the loved and parted hei’e below, 

Meet ne’er to part again.’ 

She found her resting place in the ‘green islet,’ and the 
stricken man of God says, for a few days, with his chil- 
dren crying around him, he could not help abandoning 
himself to heart breaking sorrow. But the promises 
of the gospel came to his aid, and faith stretched her 
view to the bright world of eternal life, and anticipated 
a happy meeting with those beloved beings whose re- 
mains were mouldering at Amherst and St. Helena. 

“We may so cast our sorrows upon the Lord as 
that we may exult in tribulation ; knowing that tribu- 
lation worketh patience ; and patience experience ; and 
experience hope . 1 The beloved Paul, who suffered in- 
comparable affliction, animated by a clear faith, could 
feel that his light affliction, enduring but for a moment, 
would work out for him a far more exceeding and eter- 


1 Rom. 5:3 — 5. 


76 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS- 


nal weight of glory, as his eyes were fixed upon the 
unseen and eternal things . 1 Casting sorrow’s burden 
upon the Lord, he could feel that his sufferings in this 
present time were not worthy to be compared with the 
glory to be revealed in the future . 2 

“The Lord will sustain his people, if they thus cast 
their burdens upon him. Not that he immediately re- 
lieves us of sin, duty, sorrow, affliction. But he sus- 
tains. When Paul prayed for the removal of that 
stake in the flesh, that messenger of Satan to buffet 
him, the Lord replied that his grace was sufficient. 

“The immortal dreamer of Bedford jail, a prisoner 
for conscience sake, because he dared to preach Christ 
faithfully, was not relieved of his imprisonment for 
twelve long years, but was so sustained and blessed by 
the divine presence, as that he never before in all his 
life had such an insight into the word of God. Never 
before was Christ more manifestly present, so that 
he was almost willing to pray for greater trouble for 
the sake of the greater comfort. 

“Let us cast every burden on the Lord, not expell- 
ing him to remove them, but expecting him to sustain 
us in bearing them as he has ever done. The mercy of 
the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them 
that fear him and his righteousness unto children’s 
children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those 
that remember his commandments to do them . 3 Prove 
the truth of God’s word for yourselves, so that you 
may be able to say from your experience, God is our 
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be remov- 
ed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst 
of the sea. 4 ’’ 

1 2 Cor. 4 : 17, 18. 2 Rom. 8 : 18. 3 Psa. 103 : 17, 18. 4 Psa.46 : 1, 2. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


77 


The preacher spoke from a full heart, and his con- 
tagious emotion thrilled the great concourse of people. 

Mr. Ashton’s very soul feasted upon the truths pre- 
sented, and he found them strengthening and uplifting. 

To Julia they pointed out a life of trust which she 
had never attained and which she feared she could nev- 
er reach. 

To another in the audience they brought to a 
culmination and terrific crisis one of the fiercest con- 
flicts he had ever known. This was Will Mortimer. 
He had heard the evangelist once before. The service , 
and their results had been on the lips of every one w 
whom he conversed during the week, bringing the d< 
mon of unbelief which possessed him into clearer n ■ 
deadlier conflict with better impressions: every cL , 
This lovely Sundaj^ morning he had slipped into ehurc 
observed by very few, and taken a pew in the extreme 
rear of the room. As the evangelist closed, all the hos- 
tility of his hitherto rather latent skepticism was 
aroused. 

All eyes were turned to Will Mortimer and a pro- 
found sensation was produced, when, at the close of 
the evangelist’s personal appeal to all interested per- 
sons, with flashing eyes, and livid features, he arose 
from his seat and said in tones of defiance : 

“Sir, I have heard before, and I hear today, that 
you Christians have power with God. I don’t believe 
a word of it. Try its efficacy upon me, sir. If it suc- 
ceeds in my case, then it will do to rely upon.” 

“Will Mr. Mortimer come forward and let God’s 
people pray for him ?” asked the evangelist with calm 
and impressive dignity. 

“No, sir, I will not,” replied Will. “I do not believe 
in such hypocritical cant.” 


78 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Will God’s people pray this afternoon and tonight 
for Mr. Mortimer’s conversion?'’ asked the evangelist, 
and the services were concluded with deep solemn ty. 

The occurrence at the close of the morning service, 
and the defiance of the skeptical young man, were 
themes of universal comment throughout the city, so 
far a they were known, and there were many surmises 
as to whether Will Mortimer would be at the evening 
service. But he was not. While many earnest prayei s 
were ascending in his behalf, and while God’s people 
were worshipping him this delightful Sunday evening, 
the young skeptic was pacing the floor of his own 
apartment, chafing like a lioness robbed of her whelps, 
thoroughly at war with himself, a terrific conflict rag- 
ing within his bosom. 

The next day he went to the church quite late, but 
succeeded in securing a seat near the door again. He 
sat pale and apparently impassive, but the conflict 
still raged within. 

As soon as an opportunity was offered he arose 
and with great agitation said : 

“I arise to ask all of the Lord’s people to pray for 

,, 

me. 

“Will Mr. Mortimer come forward and let us pray 
for him ?” asked the evangelist. 

“Yes, sir. I will do any thing required by the word 
of God to secure the expulsion of this demon of skepti- 
cism from my soul.” 

He slowly walked to the front seat, his strong 
frame agitated with emotion, and fell upon his knees in 
prayer, amidst the profound stillness of the audience. 
Sobs were heard in every part of the room, and when 
the minister said ; “Let us pray,” the whole assembly 
went down upon their knees as by one mighty impulse. 


FROM 


ERROR’S CHAINS. 


9 


Heaven seemed to come down and meet with earth 
in that room oi prayer as the man of God drew nearer 
and nearer to God in supplication, taking hold of the 
very arm of omnipotence, wrestling and agonizing as 
though face to face with the Almighty. It is so true at 
times that 

•‘Heaven comes do n our souls to greet, 

And glory crowns the mercy seat.” 

So it was ill this consecrated room. Sobs escaped 
from many hearts, and earnest ‘Amen s’ fell from many 
lips. When the congregation arose there seemed to 
spread over the entire people, as by some invisible 
hand, a feeling that the struggle was over with the 
young skeptic. It was over with him. lie had yielded, 
ally surrendered. The first words that fell from his 
lips, were those put by some writers in the mouth of 
the dying infidel emperor, Julian, “Oh, Galilean, thou 
hast conquered ! ’ ’ 

Will Mortimer was a Christian, and not one in the 
great concourse doubted the sincerity of his piety, as 
he stood up before them and told them, with flowing 
tears, of the terrific struggle through which he passed, 
and of the sweet inexpressible joy which filled his soul. 

“The grief of my life,” he said, “will ever be the evil 
I have attempted to do in disseminating skeptical prin- 
ciples in this community, and in seeking to injedt 
doubts into honest hearts. Oh, God! forgive me this 
sin. All the time, the one tiling that spoiled my fiend- 
ish joy has been an ever recurring fear that the Bible is 
true. I hereby renounce all of my foolish skepticism. 
I feel, I know, within my own heart, that Jesus loves 
me and is with me, and I can now truly say, It is well 
with my soul.” 

Tears were in every eye and every heart was happy 


80 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


as the young man took his seat, ‘clothed, and in his 
right mind,’ with the demon expelled. 

Whether or not the dying emperor of Rome uttered 
these words, there was no doubt in the minds of all in 
this assembly that, from his heart, Will Mortimer had 
joyfully exclaimed : “Oh, Galilean, thou hast conquer- 
ed!” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


81 


CHAPTER VII. 

A CRANK. 

Thine was the prophet’s vision, thine 
The exultation, the divine 
Insanity of noble minds, 

That never flatters nor abates, 

But labors, and endures, and waits, 

Till all that it foresees, it finds, 

Or, what it cannot find creates! 

—Longfellow, Keeamos. 

On Tuesday morning, another bright June morning, 
Julia was full of unrest, and traces of sadness were 
visible upon her beautiful features as she sat in reverie 
in her own room. Looking out of her window, the 
lovely, not -far -distant, forest caught her eye, and 
these lines * from Thomson’s Seasons came into her 
mind : 

“Welcome, ye shades! ye bowery thickets, hail! 

Ye lofty pines! ye venerable oaks! 

Ye ashes wild, resounding o’er the steep! 

Delicious is your shelter to the soul, 

As to the hunted hart the sallying spring.” 

“Ah me!’’ she sighed. “Would that 1 could find 
some ‘shelter’ ‘delicious to the soul.’ Would that my 
poor heart were at rest. — ’’ 

“Miss Julia, a ge’man in de parlor, wan’ ter see 
you,” said Jane, rudely breaking in upon her mel- 
ancholy reverie. 

When Julia had entered the parlor she was greeted 
with this singular salutation : 


82 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Fair Julia, your interest and esteem are humbly 
requested for poor Robinson, the president apparent, 
and author of various works on science and religion. 
It is thought that God, in his providence, wonderfully 
favors Robinson in his endeavors to secure the citadel 
of your heart. He would have God rule supreme in 
that citadel, and he would be second in this authority 
and rule of love. There are prophecies and unmistaka- 
ble divine marks that indicate the necessity of speedily 
surrendering your heart to the great God, and to Rob- 
inson, his deputy. You are a lady of good understand- 
ing, of good principles, of amiable temper, of good ed- 
ucation, and grace of person. Robinson is persuaded 
that you will at once yield to his entreaties and remon- 
strances, so that no more vigorous measures may be 
resorted to.” 

Julia had buried her face in her hands, and her 
whole being was convulsed with conflicting emotions — 
her own sadness ; sympathy for the semi - insane Robin- 
son Comings, who, though harmless, was very decided- 
ly unbalanced in his mental make - up ; and a keen ap- 
preciation of the ludicrousness of this scene of this un- 
balanced old man greeting her with a declaration of his 
love. She was dazed momentarily. 

Old Robinson still stood with his hat in his hand, 
and his long silver locks swayed by the gentle summer 
breeze floating in through the open door. Failing to 
comprehend the cause of her silence, he continued : 

“It is well that you hesitate, fair Julia, before you 
speak in so important a matter as this. Think of the 
great God favoring the suit of Robinson, and listen to 
these words of his adoring love : 

“When shades nocturnal vail the skies, 

And stars look down with radiant eyes, 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


83 


I see tliee robed In beauty bright, 

Portrayed by fancy’s dream of light. 

“The bloom of health upon thy cheek, 

Where graces sweet play hide and seek — 

Though I have never loved before, 

I can not say that ever more. 

“The rosebud truly lent to thee 
Some of its beauty rich and free; 

The tulip parted with the blush 
That nestles in thy beauteous flush. 

“Ah! lovely girl, did I but know 
Thy love for me would ever flow; 

Enamored with angelic vision, 

Earth would become to me a heaven. . 

“Gould love for love be e’er secured, 

By sigh for sigh to me assured, 

My soul on wings of bliss unfeigned, 

Would soar to paradise regained. 

“If, while my love I offer you 

You deem my ardent words untrue, 

Just place your hand upon my heart — 

Its throbs would cease if we must part.” 

While the partially demented old man was deliver- 
ing this singular and erratic effusion Julia’s cheeks 
grew crimson. Yet it was all such an overwhelming 
surprise that for some moments she was dazed and un- 
able to speak. 

Perceiving her confusion, and still failing to under- 
stand the cause of her hesitation, he continued : 

“When it transpires that the rich citadel has sur- 
rendered, the heart of old Robinson will ever be loyal 
to the sacred trust, which he will delight to guard, lay- 
ing down his life in its defense if necessary, and giving 
the chiefest place in it to God, who should reign su- 
preme in — ” 

But Julia heard no more. Regaining her self- 
possession, she flew to the library, and exclaimed: 

“Uncle, please go and talk to old Robinson Comings 
in the parlor. He seems to be entirely crazy this morn- 
ing, and I cannot see him any more.” 


84 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Very well, my dear. I will go at once and see him. 
He is a man of indisputable piety, but is not well bal- 
anced.” 

“Friend Ashton, you have done well incoming to 
the rescue. Fair Julia has retreated and has given old 
Robinson no promise of the surrender of the citadel of 
her heart to his protection, though he has laid before 
her the most abundant protestations of fidelity and 
loyalty. He has made it fully appear that no one ex- 
cept the Lord Jehovah is worthy of a higher place in 
the command of the rich citadel than himself.” 

“I am really glad to see you, Robinson,” said Mr. 
Ashton, shaking his hand and taking a seat. The old 
man still stood with hat in hand. 

“Be seated, Robinson, and tell me how you have 
fared, and what you have been doing all this time.” 

“If it transpires that fair Julia is unwilling to ac- 
cept the terms proposed hy Robinson, expostulation 
and entreaty will be necessary. He entreats you, friend 
Ashton, to assume the position of chief diplomat in this 
most important enterprise, for he is persuaded that, 
with your influence, you could soon cause to appear 
the strength and propriety of his claims,” he continued, 
not noticing Mr. Ashton’s inquiry. 

“Be seated, Robinson, and tell me all the interest- 
ing bits of news you have gathered up since I saw you. 
A man of your intelligence and activity must have seen 
and heard much thafis interesting.” 

“If all your entreaties, friend Ashton, and your dip- 
lomatic efforts, fail to secure for Robinson his rightful 
command in this beautiful citadel, then a declaration 
of war must be made. You can accomplish much if 
you will, and, because of all the good that will result, 
you should use all your influence. It would be most 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


85 


agreeable to Robinson for the citadel to surrender with- 
out a declaration of war, and the anxiety of a protract- 
ed siege. Do thy diligence, friend Ashton.” 

Mr. Ashton made one more effort to draw his mind 
from this wild, weird fancy. 

“If you will give me your attention a moment,” he 
said, “I will tell you where you can be a real blessing to 
a poor creature. I know you will rejoice in an oppor- 
tunity to benefit one of the Lord’s little ones.” 

Instantly his attention was secured. The old man 
sat down and said: 

“With a hearty good will, friend Ashton. Robinson 
will cheerfully do what he can for any one needing help. 
Fair Julia will desire time to consider terms of surren- 
der. In the meantime Robinson will employ himself use- 
fully. He will cheerfully give even a cup of cold water 
to a disciple. Who needs help ? ” 

“I knew you would listen to a call of distress. Mrs. 
Norton, one of the Lord’s poor, is afflicted with sick- 
ness, and is in straitened circumstances. Her son, 
Ralph, in spite of her pious life, and constant tears and 
entreaties, has gone from bad to worse. He was led 
astray by evil associates, and plunged deeper and deep- 
er into crime. At last, as you know, he was caught in 
the toils of the law. The trial has just ended, and he 
has been convicted, and sentenced to ten years in the 
State prison. Every available dollar that his mother 
could command has been swallowed up in the trial. 
Since its conclusion, the terrible issue and the constant 
strain during the trial have completely prostrated the 
heart-broken mother. She is now penniless and con- 
fined to a couch of suffering. She is one of the Lord’s 
poor, and is passing through the deep waters of afflic- 
tion.” 


86 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Old Robinson will go immediately and do what he 
can for the needs of this poor soul. The income on his 
books, and pay for his services as proof reader go rap- 
idly for Bibles and Testaments and tracts for the peo- 
ple who will read them. But there is something left for 
the necessaries of life for this poor soul. Robinson will 
go at once and relieve her wants.’’ 

“Here, Robinson, this will represent me in your 
mission of mercy, and in procuring the things you may 
find needful for this afflicted creature,” said Mr. Ash- 
ton, handing Robinson five dollars as he hurriedly left 
for the abode of affliction. 

Where can we turn our eyes and not behold an 
overwhelming mass of evil ? It is the portion of the 
cup of every human being. Such is the conflict of good 
with natural evil. 

There is also a conflict of good with moral evil 
which will result in glorious victory — victory that will 
exalt and display the beauty of the divine perfections. 

In the heart of Julia Ashton there is raging in 
downright earnestness a battle between good and evil 
for the mastery of her affections and the possession of 
her heart. She is in darkness groping for the light. In 
the freshness of her young life she is earnestly striving 
to settle decisively, for herself, whether evil shall con- 
tinue its domination in her heart, or whether a higher 
and more blessed life shall succeed her old life. 

A new phase of evil is seen in the case of Robinson 
Comings. His heart is firmly anchored by the strong 
hope of the gospel, and is in hearty and loving allegi- 
ance to the blessed Father. He has strength of intellect 
in some directions, is the author of two books of great 
value, that display ability and devotion. He is more 
than three -score years of age. He has never married, 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


87 


but has given his life to deeds of benevolence. He has 
an income from the sale of his books, and also from a 
position which he holds as proof-reader in a publishing 
house in a neighboring city. 

But, alas ! he has some such wild eccentricities 
that, at times, he seems to be a proper subject for an 
insane asylum. Indeed, his friends have twice confined 
him, for brief periods, in private asylums, but being 
considered harmless he was soon released. Evil has re- 
vealed itself in his case in mental disorder. But such is 
the general excellence of his character that his semi -in- 
sanity is overlooked wherever he goes. He is universal- 
ly respected because of his self - sacrificing deeds of be- 
nevolence. 

Physical suffering and chill penury, together with 
maternal anguish for a criminal son, is the legacy of 
evil bequeathed to old Mrs. Norton. She is well strick- 
en in years. By industry with her needle and close econ- 
omy, she has been able to purchase an humble little 
cottage and provide necessaries for herself and her little 
grand -daughter, Belle. Her reckless son, Ralph, Belle’s 
father, the w off every restraint, and over - leaped every 
barrier to evil, when his wife and babe became victims 
of an epidemic one year since, during a visit to friends 
in a distant city. The climax of Mrs. Norton’s grief 
was reached when Ralph was arrested, and tried for 
forgery and con vi died of this crime. The anguish of 
these sore trials, and the yielding of all her earnings for 
the expenses of the defense, have overwhelmed the 
mother, and reduced her to sickness and want. 


88 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

HARRY BURTON. 

Thou who for me didst feel such pain, 

Whose precious blood the cross did stain, 

Let not those agonies be in vain. 

-Earl of Roscommon. 

Several weeks have flown quickly by. It is now 
midsummer, and the fierce vertical rays of the sun have 
scorched vegetation, and driven every one off to a sum- 
mer resort, who has the means or inclination to go. 
For, although this mountain city is itself a summer re- 
sort, its citizens habitually go off summering. 

Although well able to afford this luxury, Julia Ash- 
ton has quietly said to her uncle : 

“If you are willing we will remain at home this 
summer. I have no heart to mingle in the senseless 
gaieties of a summer watering place. I should find it 
much more agreeable to my feelings to go occasionally 
to the falls in our own little city these sultry evenings.” 

So the matter was disposed of quite as much to the 
mind of Mr. Ashton as of his niece. 

Each season has its compensations. If midsummer 
dooms us to sweltering heat, it furnishes for our pal- 
ates luscious melons, fruits and grapes, which have 
grown sweet under the sun’s scorching rays. 

On this particular July evening Julia and Will Mor- 
timer are sitting together on a vine-embowered rustic 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


89 


seat, enjoying the breath of a few lingering honey- 
suckles, and the delicious odor of a cape jessamine laden 
with pure white blossoms. 

“Sweet Venus shines; and from her genial rise, 

When daylight sickens till it springs afresh, 

Unrivalled reigns, the fairest lamp of Night.” 

Will has been speaking of his new found joy and 
hope, and, in all the enthusiasm of his fresh love, finds 
the “old, old, story,” ever new. 

“The very first thing I did was to send a letter to 
Harry, as swiftly as steam could carry it, bearing the 
joyful news. I was also anxious to neutralize, if possi- 
ble whatever of skeptical poison my former words had 
carried to his heart. I have received two letters from 
him since. The .second one, which is quite lengthy 
came a few days since, and fills my soul with joy. I 
think I may safely say it will prove a source of pleasure 
to you. The first of these letters, after hearing of mv 
surrender and great joy, indicates his increasing inter- 
est in religious matters. 

“After expressions of joy over my own case, which 
I omit, he says : 

“T have felt for some time greatly troubled about 
my spiritual condition, and your advice gave me great 
pleasure. I love to think of you and your interest in 
me. 

“‘I have long since determined to be a Christian, 
and God helping me I will never let go until I feel that 
I rest my whole heart in Jesus. I have a hard road to 
travel though, as I am in a place that will certainly try 
a person’s strength. If I am not in constant commun- 
ion with God I will be drawn irresistibly away at 
times without my knowledge. I pray constantly for 
strength to persevere. 

“ ‘You know I was never a wicked boy, but, as you 


90 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


say, there is one thing needful, an entire confidence and 
reliance in Jesus. I feel that not only m 3 r own soul 
needs my conversion, but also my friends, over whom I 
have influence ; and above all, my lor others, for whom I 
feel a great concern. There is a great deal of good I 
could do if I had my path and duty clearly defined.’ ” 

“What a dear boy he is, to feel this anxiety for oth- 
ers before he is converted himself,” said Julia. 

“ ‘I was highly pleased with your verses,’ he con- 
tinues. ‘There is very little poetry in my soul, but 
enough to appreciate it in others. I would like very 
much to be with you now, and especially would I re- 
joice to be with uncle Ashton. I have not heard from 
any of the home folks right lately, but all were quite 
well at last accounts. I am getting very anxious to see 
them, and I fear I am kind o’ home sick. I close with 
the request to pray for me until I know I have found 
Jesus.’ 

“Harry was near the kingdom when he wrote that 
letter,” continued Will, “as his next, written on July 
4th, will indicate. I must now give the joyful contents 
of that letter to you, Miss Julia, but will permit Harry 
to speak for himself. He says : . 

“ ‘ Eureka ! Eureka ! and so easy. I was baptized 
ere I received your precious letter. I would have writ- 
ten to you at once, but had so much writing to do, 
have neglected you for a little while. It seems to me 
that I have been the happiest person living since I gave 
myself to my blessed Savior, for the only thing I need- 
ed was just giving up. 

“ ‘I now know that I have been feeling for several 
years the wooing of the Spirit, but at times would put 
it away from me — I now shudder at my danger — and 
at other times would feel near to God. Then when one 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


91 


of your letters came I was almost tempted to cast the 
whole thing overboard. I rejoice now that I did not. 
I expert if I had not come on the road I would long 
ago have given myself to him. 

“ ‘When you were with me that day just before I 
left home, I so wanted to propose to you that we both 
seek the better way, but had not the moral courage to 
do so. 

“‘During a revival in one of the churches in this 
city — one end of my line — I became so uneasy I could 
hardly rest, and then I would have so rejoiced could I 
have had the privilege of talking with uncle Ashton. 
Day after day I would make a resolution to go to some 
Christian for relief. Then it was your joyful letter 
came and I wrote to you. 

“‘Several times I even started on the way to see 
Dr. Gerald, but the evil spirit would draw me away 
with some excuse. At last I mastered, and, during a 
conversation with him, I was so enlightend that I then 
and there gave myself to the Savior, and, oh, how hap- 
py I am, and how thankful to God I am for that bles- 
sed moment ! Dr. Gerald is a dear good man. I at once 
united with his church. I seem to get nearer to God ev- 
ery day, and his blessed influence I will never let go. 

“T have now hopes and evidences of ere long see- 
ing all my brothers come to our Lord. Not long since 
I received a letter from Clifford, who seems to be deep- 
ly interested, and desires the prayers of Christians, and 
I do earnestly pray for his speedy translation into the 
blessed light of the gospel. 

‘“I have other glad news for you, if you have not 
already heard it from other sources. Our old friend, 
Dr. Monteith, ever memorable to you, has been in the 
midst of a great revival work in the village of P , 


92 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


where blessed successes have attended his labors. 
Sixty-one members were added to the church, which 
for a long time had been very cold, having only twenty 
members. Some of the hardest cases in the village 
were happily converted, some of them the most prom- 
inent citizens. 

“ ‘One very distinguished gentleman, formerly in 
public life, heard that the doctor intended to call and 
talk with him on the subject of religion, and said, if he 
did he should certainly show him the door. Poor, mis- 
guided man ! But no one knows what may happen, as 
there is no limit to God’s grace. 

“‘May the blessed work go on until the whole 
world be united in one voice. May you be blessed and 
recieve strength to ever speak for truth and righteous- 
ness. Never neglect an opportunity of speaking a word 
for Christ, for I know by experience that it does do 
great good. 

“‘This is the fourth of July and about six or eight 
thousand more people than usual are in the city. In 
consequence of this it is a very lively day.’ ” 

“That is indeed good news,” said Julia, “I rejoice 
that Harry is happy in his new found trust. I know it 
will be a very great joy to uncle. He lives so near the 
heavenly land, and in such close communion with his 
Lord that it will be no great surprise to him. He be- 
lieves that he will receive anything he asks. 

“What a very great pleasure it must be to have 
such a simple child-like trust as uncle has. He has been 
asking for the salvation of Harry and his brothers, and 
he talks to the Lord just as we talk together here. He 
tells me and I have not the least doubt of his word — 
that he is constantly asking the same blessing for me.” 

I can readily believe that, Miss Julia. Indeed, I 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


93 


could not believe otherwise, knowing as I do the thor- 
ough genuineness of his character.” 

“Do you know, Will, that while you were reading 
that letter from Harry, although I rejoiced in his good 
fortune, yet the news filled me with sadness ? It seemed 
to be the severing of a tie between us. Rather, I should 
say, it was the formation of a new tie binding him to a 
life which I cannot reach." 

There was much of sadness in these last words. 

“Ought not this happy change to be an additional 
link, binding you to a new and true life. Permit me, 
Miss Julia, to say that you are mistaken in saying you 
cannot reach this life. Who would ever have thought 
a month since that I would at this time be an inex- 
pressibly happy Christian?’’ 

“That is indeed a great change, Will. But it does 
seem to be for others and not for me to have such peace 
and joy." 

“Although I am but a novice, Miss Julia, not vet a 
month old, yet I know the offers and invitations are 
universal and unlimited. Ho, every one that thirsteth . 1 
Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be 
saved . 2 Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall 
search for me with all your heart . 3 It is a faithful say- 
ing, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
came into the world to save .sinners ; of whom I am 
chief . 4 

“These words have been very helpful to me," he 
continued. “They cannot be said to be limited. They 
exclude no one. ‘Whosoever will,’ is the word. Nothing 
is to be done or paid that we may merit eternal life. 
It is without money, without price of any sort. No 
one can sav he is so sinful as to be placed beyond the 

1 Isa. 55 : 1. 2 Rom. 10 : 13. 3 .Tor. 20 : 13. 4 1 Tim. 1 : 15. 


94 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


pale of mercy. It may be obtained by the chief of sin- 
ners. You may be saved now, if you will trust Christ 
— ‘give up,’ as Harry expresses it.” 

“I thank you, Will, for your interest in my case, 
but I really fear the door of mercy is closed against me. 
I have tried with all my power to accept Christ as my 
Savior. I have tried to do just what my friends have 
told me to do. But all in vain. My heart seems all the 
while to grow more stolid W indifferent. I seem to be 
turning to stone. I fear I have been given over to hard- 
ness of heart.” 

“I do not think so, Miss Julia. God has been merci- 
ful to me. He has a little later, saved one of your own 
relatives.” 

“As for Harry,” replied Julia, “he never was a 
wicked boy. If any one could be saved without any 
conversion, as you call it, I am sure he could. My case 
is different.” 

“Not any more difficult with God, Miss Julia, if it is 
different,” said her friend. 

“The only plank, Will, under my sinking soul, the 
only straw to which I convulsively grasps is uncle’s 
strong faith. There is something so real and solid 
about his piety, something that so takes hold of every 
thing and every body about him, that he seems to be a 
messenger let down from heaven. But of late I have 
even despaired of the efficacy of uncle’s faith in my be- 
half. My soul has been the battle ground of a fierce 
confli(T. I do desire with great intensity to have peace 
and joy, but within all is dark, and I seem to be as one 
walking in the midst of dark shadows and thick dark- 
ness, even in the midst of the brightness and beauty of 
Ashton Hall. While enjoying the wealth of uncle’s 
affection, 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


95 


‘I feel as one who treads alone 
Some banquet hall deserted.’” 

She ceased speaking and sighed deeply. But in a 
lew moments said : 

“I must not, however, intrude my gloom upon you. 
As I look through the foliage of this sweet bower and 
see yon bright star and the pale crescent moon, which 
I had not before noticed, I am reminded of the couplet: 

•Like a fair lady at her easement, shines 
The evening star, the star of love and rest!’ 

By the by, a star of love and rest tried very hard to 
beam upon me a few weeks since, and to become my 
‘bright particular star.’ But I was ingrate enough to 
flee from its mild beams and to utterly refuse its light, 
for it was a wandering star.” 

‘‘Pardon me, my friend, for speaking plainly to 
you,” said Will. “I can never cease reproaching myself 
for the manner in which I once spoke to you about re- 
ligion. From my own experience, 1 know you are doing 
yourself a great wrong in forcing from you religious 
impressions. I can easily see that you are much inter- 
ested in your religious state. This very fact — y^our 
keen interest in the subject — is an indication that the 
Spirit of God is moving upon your heart. Those who 
are not the subjects of divine influence I do not think 
have any feeling in the matter. ‘While you have this 
feeling you should determine to settle the matter at 
once.” 

‘‘It seems already settled against me, Will. I know 
of nothing left for me to do but accept the situation, 
live out my little life and die and be forgotten.” 

“Permit me to urge you to continue to seek until 
you find — determining to .spend your whole life in the 
search if need be. Take hold of Jesus as he speaks in 
the gospel. Resolve never to let go until you receive a 


96 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


blessing . 1 I beg yon not to allow any thing to turn 
you aside from this purpose. Such a strong invincible 
purpose is one of the things essential to success in this, 
as in every thing else in life. When such a purpose is 
formed salvation is near, as Dr. Monteith told us.” 

“I thank you, Will, for your interest. Perhaps the 
light may break upon me after awhile, but all is very 
dark now. Here comes Jane.” 

“Miss Julia, Massa Ashton say he like you to come 
to de libr’y,” said the servant. 

“Will you not go also, and spend a while with us?” 
asked the young lady of her friend, as they arose from 
the rustic seat. 

“Excuse me this evening, Miss Julia, and I will af- 
ford myself that pleasure some other time. Remember 
I am praying for you,” and in a moment more she 
heard the gate close behind him. 


1 Gen. 32 : 20. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


97 


CHAPTER IX. 

MR. ASHTON’S FAITH. 


Faith is the subtle chain 
Which binds us to the Infinite: the voice 
Of a deep life within, that will remain 
Until we crowd it thence. 

- Elizabeth Oakes Smith. 

“My dear,” said Mr. Ashton, as Julia seated her- 
self near her beloved uncle, “the mail brings us blessed 
tidings of good things. Your cousin, Harry Burton, 
has just been happily converted and has united with 
Dr. Gerald’s church. Clifford also is thinking seriously 
of his condition and is no doubt near the threshold of 
the blessed kingdom of grace. Blessed be the name of 
the Lord ! I have asked him for their conversion, and 
one of the lost is found.” 

“Yes, dear uncle, Will Mortimer has just received a 
letter from Harry, full of joy and trust, and had just 
read it to me • when 3^011 sent for me to come to the 
library,” replied Julia with an expression of mingled 
sadness and joy upon her face. 

“The mercy and loving kindness of our Lord will 
ere long be revealed to you, my dear. I have served 
him during many long years, and, although I have 
passed through many trying scenes, and through the 
deep waters of affliction, 1 can boldly say, the Lord is 
my helper. He has never left me nor forsaken me. I 


98 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


have entreated him to bestow his mercy on many of 
my loved ones, you among them. These tidings of joy 
from Harry are an earnest and pledge of yet greater 
blessings to those whom I love.” 

“How I do wish I had your faith, uncle. It is the 
only barrier between my soul and despair.” 

“A poor, wavering faith it is, my dear. Your old 
uncle constantly mourns over his lack of faith. A poor 
man with an afflicted son, once went to the disciples of 
our Lord to have his son healed. They were unable to 
do it and application was made to the Lord himself in 
these words, If thou canst do anything, have compas- 
sion on us and help us. The reply was that it was not 
a question of the Lord’s ability, but a question of 
whether he could believe. If thou canst believe, — that 
is the question, said the Lord — all things are possible 
to him that believeth. The poor man cried out, Lord, 
I do believe ; help thou my unbelief . 1 So, my dear, I of- 
ten am under the necessity of asking my Lord to help 
my unbelief. ’ ’ 

“It seems so strange to me, uncle, to hear you 
speak of your faith in that way. I would have pointed 
to you as one of the standing monuments of faith.” 

“While such is my weakness,” replied Mr. Ashton, 
“I know there is great efficacy in believing prayer. I 
confidently believe that you will be made happy in a 
Savior’s love. It is possible that I may not live long 
enough to see this happy result accomplished. Or I 
may be permitted to remain here and rejoice with you. 
But he will save you.” 

“I wish it might be so, uncle.” 

Faith in Christ is so simple that it is difficult to 
find anything simpler with which to illustrate it. 

1 Mark : 22 — 21. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


99 


When one has believed, it then seems the easiest thing 
imaginable, and he feels like exclaiming, as Harry did, 
“ Eureka ! Eureka ! and so easy.” 

Paith, or personal trust, when it is realized in ex- 
perience, is something of the nature of a personal dis- 
covery, and fills one with all the jo}'- and enthusiasm 
which accompanies a discovery in science or physics, 
but with added intensity. Archimedes had long applied 
himself with diligence to the solution of a mathematic- 
al problem, and when at length he found the solution 
he ran through the streets crying, Eureka ! I have found 
it. When the discovery of personal faith in Christ has 
been made it will reveal itself in the same enthusiasm 
that prompted this man thus to run and .shout out his 
discovery. 

It is revealed also in intense solicitude for the wel- 
fare of others. The saved soul exclaims, 

“Thou will I tell to sinners round 
What a clear .Savior i have found.” 

When David prayed for the joy of salvation, he imme- 
diatelv added, Then will I teach transgressors thy 
ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee . 1 When 
Andrew became convinced that he had found the Mes- 
siah, he immediately found his brother Simon and said 
to him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being in- 
terpreted, the Christ . 2 Similarly Philip hunted up his 
brother, Nathaniel, and declared to him, We have 
found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets 
did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph . 3 

In both of these exclamations the same word of 
disco very is used — Eurekamen ! — we have found ! As 
all newly converted persons feel, so Harry felt. He ex- 
hibited a deep anxiety for the salvation of his brothers, 

1 Psa. 5! : 13. 2 John 1 : 11. 8 John 1 : 4f>. 


L of C 


100 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS- 


and a great interest in the progress of the cause of re- 
ligion. He rejoiced in the tidings of numbers added to 
the redeemed of the Lord. 

As Julia saw the triumph of good over evil, of truth 
over error, in the conversion of her favorite cousin, and 
her friend, Will Mortimer, she felt that there was but a 
step between her soul and black despair. Her uncle’s 
prophecy seemed to her like a far off strain of sweet 
music. It seemed too good to be true. 

“Yet,” thought she, “I will still try. I will not en- 
tirely give the matter over yet. The prayers of my 
friends may prove to be so many cords which may yet 
span the gulf, and, in due time, bring over the cable of 
faith, which may bind me to a higher and better life.” 

After many words of tender and sympathetic coun- 
sel her uncle had taken up his favorite volume of Fla- 
vel, and had feasted his soul until sleep overcame him, 
and he sat dozing in his easy chair, while these 
thoughts were passing through Julia’s mind, and min- 
gled emotions were stirring her heart. She sat for a 
long while thinking over the coversation with Will 
Mortimer, recalling the joyful, trustful words of Har- 
ry, and at a late hour retired to her own room. 

She was in a state of mental unrest. Passing 
through these conflicting emotions, jov at the news of 
Harry’s happiness, grief over her own condition as a 
stranger to the experiences of her friends, and an alien 
from the hopes of God’s people, and real thankfulness 
for the kind interest of her friends and loved ones in her 
behalf, she lay down to unpleasant dreams. 

In her visions, she was far out in mid -ocean, cling- 
ing convulsively to a broken spar of a vessel. She could 
seethe life -boat plying about, gathering up men and 
women who were struggling in the wild waves. She 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


101 


could see her uncle’s silver locks, tossed by the rude 
winds, as he sat safely in the life -boat, and anxiously 
looked for her in the angry waters. Others she recog- 
nized. She cried aloud to them for help, but the roar 
of winds and waves swallowed up the sound of her 
voice, so that they could not hear her cries. Now the 
boat was so near that she thought the oarsmen would 
surely see her and save her: then it would be swept 
from her far out in the distance. Again it would come 
near, so near, that she could recognize many .she knew, 
and then it would be driven so far away that she 
would lose sight of it entirely. 

While still driven and tossed by the wild waves and 
beating tempest, and unrescued by the life -boat, she 
awoke. It was long after her usual time for rising, and 
her head was throbbing with pain. 


c 


102 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER X. 

FRIENDS AT ASHTON HALL. 


“A thing is never too often repeated which i.s never sufficiently 
learned.” — Seneca. 

“I called just a moment,” said Dr. Prescott, “to 
say to you that a few friends, with myself, would be 
pleased to accept your invitation and share the hospi- 
tality of Ashton Hall this evening.” 

He addressed Mr. Ashton, and a few days had 
passed since the tidings of Harry Burton’s conversion 
had been received. 

“Your request was,” he continued, “that we re- 
sume our conversation on some subjects at an early 
opportunity. Mrs. Prescott, Mr. Dixon and Will 
Mortimer will be present. Judge Norman also, hearing 
of the proposed conversation, desires to be present, and 
will be one of the coterie.” 

At an early hour on this July afternoon these 
friends ^vere again assembled in the charming parlor of 
Mr. Ashton, with two additional guests. 

Mrs. Prescott, the pastor’s wife, is a woman of sin- . 
gularty beautiful character, devout, energetic in the 
prosecution of any scheme suggested by her goodness 
of heart, never hesitating to measure the size or consid- 
er the number of obstacles. Her piety is modest and 
unobtrusive. She is of a meditative turn of mind, but 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


103 


thinks ol practical rather than speculative questions. 
Hers is a beautiful transparent life, full of good deeds, 
and a perpetual benediction to all about her. She is 
the mother of two children, Clarence, a boy of four 
years, and little Florie, an infant of a few months. 
These pets on this occasion have been left in charge of 
one of those convenient “aunties,” who are such a 
blessing to some mothers. 

Judge Norman is the other addition to the group. 
He has grown rich in the practice of his profession. He 
started out in life with only an extra-ordinary amount 
of practical wisdom, or common sense, as it is called — 
good judgement about common things. His parents 
had given him the advantage of an ordinary college 
course. He rose to the head of his profession, and for 
a number of years wore the judicial ermine. By various 
outside investments, in addition to the income from his 
legal business, he has succeeded in accumulating the 
handsome little fortune of a half million, and has retir- 
ed from the bench. Having no family except his wife, 
he has taken Will Mortimer into his family, and recent- 
ly has associated him with himself in the practice of 
law. 

“There is something in that boy,” he had said ten 
years ago, “and he shall have an education if Norman 
can raise the stamps,” and so it has been. 

The Judge is a member of the church, but the two 
main features of his religion are an orthodox faith and 
plenty of money. He is very careful to maintain most 
scrupulously a form of belief -consistent with the teach- 
ings of his church, and to employ his energies in every 
way to accumulate money. His conscience is rather 
elastic, and can be stretched over many little turns of 
trade which cannot possibly be reconciled with the 


1 04 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


moral code. Orthodoxy and money with him cover a 
multitude of sins. Not that he is a sinner as the world 
counts sinning, for he prides himself in his punctuality 
in all the business engagements of life. So far as the 
outward requirements of morality are concerned he 
presents a faultless model. So outwardly he makes a 
very good church member. He is regular in his attend- 
ance at church, and aids in the support of its enterpris- 
es in a sort of patronizing way, imagining that he re- 
flects upon it dignity and respectability. But to his 
honor be it said, he possesses a very high regard for the 
pastor, Dr. Prescott, and regards him as a decidedly 
superior man. 

“History is truth and error incarnate,” observed 
Dr. Prescott, when the company were seated, and some 
reference had been made to the dark period of American 
history, so deeply engraven upon every heart. 

“Each age,” he continued, has had its tumultuous 
seasons, and stormy discussions of particular phases of 
truth. The truths of religion brought to view by these 
conflicts are so many milestones along the past, mark- 
ing the progress of the church and of humanity to- 
wards a larger and fuller conception of the truths of 
Christianity. In this way have been wrought out the 
elaborate confessions of faith which we now possess, 
each article ot which stands as the monument of the 
conflicts of a particular age.” 

“Do you mean to say, my dear sir, that our ortho- 
dox faith, though fully revealed in the Bible, has not 
been understood and declared in all the ages, as we 
have it ? asked the Judge. 

“ 1 hat is my position, Judge, and that is the lesson 
of history.” 

“Surely you are mistaken, mv dear sir: surelv you 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


105 


must be mistaken about this !” exclaimed the Judge ex- 
citedly. “What! no orthodox statement of belief dur- 
ing all these ages. How could any body be saved 
without an orthodox belief?” 

“You forget, Judge, that all saving truth exists 
independently of all formal statement of that truth, 
and that the orderly arrangement of its different parts 
is a work of time, just as the gradual development of 
any of the natural sciences is a work of progress and 
time. The facts of nature, which lie at the foundation 
of every science, existed irrespectively and independent- 
ly of the discovering and classifying of them into a sci- 
ence. In their natural and unscientific state they an- 
swered all the needs of man. Because the science of Bot- 
any was not wrought out man did not hesitate to par- 
take of those herbs and fruits which are good for food. 
Because the truths of religion were not fully declared in 
precise language outside of the Bible, and because they 
were not wrought into an orderly system, men have 
not hesitated to eat the bread of life and drink the wa- 
ter of life, when they have felt their hunger and thirst.” 

“But it seems to me, my dear sir, that the whole 
thing should have been given to us in reguiar»‘ship- 
shape, , just as our code states its laws precisely, and 
in clear, unambiguous language, so that there could be 
no mistaking the meaning. Why, every .sect in Christ- 
endom, formulates its dogmas, and unblushingly says, 
‘We get this from the Bible.’ This seems to me at least 




very unphilosophical.” 

“There is a reason for this, Judge, which I shall 
presently mention : meantime I beg you remember that 
God does not do as man would do. His thoughts are 
not our thoughts, neither are his ways our ways.” 

“Of-course, my dear sir. Of course, that is true.” 


106 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Let us bear in mind also that, as in regard to re- 
vealed truths, so in regard to what we now esteem the 
plainest natural truths, there have been controversy, 
conffidt and persecution.” 

“Could you give us an example of that fact, 
doctor?” asked Will. 

“Yes, sir. The Copernician system of astronomy 
was bitterly opposed by astronomers of the period, but 
was so vigorously and intelligently advocated by 
Copernicus that it was finally accepted. We of today 
are astonished that any other system could ever have 
prevailed. 

“The idea of the circulation of the blood,” continued 
the doctor, “through the human system, though now 
universally recognized as a fundamental principle of 
physiology, was ridiculed and bitterly opposed bv phy- 
sicians when it was first advocated by Harvey. 

“In like manner each truth of the Bible has been 
opposed by enemies when formulated. The heavenly 
bodies revolved around the sun as their centre as truly 
before Copernicus proclaimed this opinion as after. In 
consequence of these revolutions all the beneficial re- 
sults were produced which now are produced. The 
blood circulated through the human body as truly be- 
fore discovered and advocated by Harvey as after. Its 
circulation secured for the bodily health and life the 
same practical advantages which we now understand 
to result from this circulation. So each truth of relig- 
ion existed in the Bible before men sought to compre- 
hend and state it and arrange it into a system, as trulv 
as after so arranged, and its saving efficacy was as 
truly experienced by every redeemed soul then as now.” 

“But, my dear sir, I contend that we should have 
had a system given us so plain that the thousands of 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


107 


block -headed heretics could not have a shadow of a 
shade of an excuse for their outrageous heresies,” ex- 
claimed the Judge, emphasizing his remark by bringing 
down his fist in a most energetic manner upon a stand 
near him. 

“If that form of belief had been favorable to Mr. 
Dixon’s church, then, my dear Sir, the proper thing for 
all ol us to do would be to join him, and live as his 
church teaches. But if that form were favorable to my 
church — to our church — then every body should feel in 
honor bound to come and subscribe to the orthodox 
faith and join us. That, sir, is the way I think it should 
have been done,” persisted the Judge. 

‘‘Allow me to corre6l you in one of your words, 
Judge,” said Mr. Ashton, “and in this I think Dr. Pres- 
cott will agree that I am right. You should say 
churches , not church. Every organization which has 
the essential elements of a New Testament church is a 
complete and independent body.- There is no combina- 
tion of these separate bodies that can properly be call- 
ed the church. Wherever, in the Scriptures, such bodies 
are referred to they are called churches, as, the churches 
of Galatia. 1 ” 

“Well, my dear sir, if the doctor says I am wrong, 
I will stand corrected. He has informed himself on 
these matters. What say you, sir? ” asked the Judge. 

“I am bound to say, Judge, that the point against 
you is well taken, as I could show by many quotations 
from the New Testament. When one church is address- 
ed, it is called the church of the Thessalonians, 2 or the 
church of God at Corinth, 3 as the case might be. When 
more than one local organization is meant, it is 
‘churches.’ ” 

1 Gal. 1 : 2; 2 IThess. 1:1. 3 1 Cor. 1 : 2. 


108 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“But is it not said that ‘the church 1 had peace 
throughout all Judea and Samaria, being edified 2 ?’” 
asked Mr. Dixon. 

“That is ‘ churches ,’ sir; that is 'churches /’ ” ex- 
claimed the Judge. “So it reads in this Bible. See 
here!” he continued, handing an open Bible over to Dr. 
Prescott. % 

“It has been read correClly ‘the church ,’ as you will 
notice, Judge, in the Revised Testament. The oldest 
copies of the Bible furnish very strong evidence that 
the word is singular and not plural, as we have it in 
our common English Bibles — ” 

“Botheration! If men are allowed this juggling 
business with the Bible, first thing anybody knows we 
will have no Bible ! They ’ll juggle it all away, or 
change it to suit themselves!” exclaimed the Judge. 

“ You have given your time and attention chiefly to 
legal matters, Judge. This is a question which we have 
not time now to consider. But if yoti will some time 
take the trouble to investigate it you will find that it is 
one in which all the nice points of ‘law and testimony’ 
find an appropriate sphere for their exercise. You will 
also find that, with the most destructive results of crit- 
icism possible, not one of the truths of the Bible, which 
we love so well, will be in the slightest degree im- 
paired.” 

“Well! well! pass on to your confessions of faith. 
But I must say — I cannot refrain from saying — that I 
wish we had a complete and unmistakable code of 
truth, so plain that none could mistake it. I must also 
confess that I cannot see why all religionists will not 
lay down all their peculiar notions anek let us all unite 
on the Bible.” 

1 Revised Version. 2 Acts 9 : Si. 


FROM FRROR’S CHAINS. 


109 


“On the Bible, as you understand it , Judge. Is n’t 
that really your meaning ? Each body of Christians 
would be glad to have all others unite on the Bible as 
they understand it. Each organization has its own in- 
terpretation of the Bible and would insist upon all 
adopting that as the basis of union,’’ observed Dr. 
Prescott. 

“But I take a plain common sense view of the Bi- 
ble,” said the Judge. 

“So all interpreters claim. Each denomination is 
as confident that they have the right interpretation, 
Judge, as you are that you are right.” 

“But, sir, I cannot see how they can claim that, if 
they gave the Bible as high a position as I do. Why, 
sir, I hold that ‘the Holy Bible was written by men di- 
vinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly in- 
struction ; that it has God for its author, salvation for 
its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its 
matter; and, therefore, is, and shall remain to the end 
of the world, the true centre of Christian union, and 
the supreme standard by which all human conduct, 
creeds and opinions should be tried,’ Now, sir, when 
I place the Bible on this high plane of authority and 
follow the universal custom of our churches in setting 
forth in writing what I find in that Bible — when I do 
this in a common sense way and according to the ordi- 
nary rules of interpretation, which govern me in 
interpreting Blaekstone, then I think, sir, my system 
has the same authority as the Bible itself,” said the 
Judge triumphantly. 

“Others, placing as high an estimate upon the Bi- 
ble as yourself, have reached different conclusions as to 
its teachings and have formed systems of belief which 
they as confidently believe to be the teachings of the 


110 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Bible,” remarked Mr. Dixon, in reply to this dog- 
matic sally of Judge Norman. 

“Oh! you look at the Bible through sectarian spec- 
tacles.” 

“May I not, with equal propriety, say that Presby- 
terians, Baptists, Episcopalians, look at the Bible 
through their peculiar glasses ? ” rejoined Mr. Dixon. 

“Well, sir: well, sir. May be so. But I am convinc- 
ed that ‘orthodoxy is my doxy, and heterodoxy is 
your doxy,’ according to the old saying of Lorenzo 
Dow. But, sir, this is a free country. You are at liber- 
ty to believe that the moon is made of green cheese, if 
you wish to. As for me, I shall continue to take my 
common sense views of the Bible, and let you take your 
an -common sense views, if you wish to,” replied the 
Judge tartly. 

Julia pleasantly said: “Judge, the very man from 
whom you have just quoted was a Methodist, and, 
therefore, that very saying, as originally used, would 
doom you to heterodoxy. Doubtless Mr. Dixon in all 
sincerity holds his views of Bible truth. I wish now to 
ask this question of Dr. Prescott. Was it not necessa- 
ry to have some expression of faith in the gather- 
ing in of the earh^ converts to the gospel ? It 
was not sufficient to say to them, ‘the New Testa- 
ment is the rule of faith, and contains all the things 
necessary to be believed,’ was it? Copies of the Scrip- 
tures were scarce and inaccessible, and it would seem 
necessary for certain leading truths to be professed by 
those who were converted. This has occurred to me,” 
she continued, giving a slight turn to the conversation. 

“You are right in your opinion, Miss Julia,” replied 
Dr. Prescott. “At first there was no New Testament. 
The gospel was preached forty years befpre any of its 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. Ill 

books were written, and longer still before they were 
nil finished. From the very first some declaration of 
faith was needful. The confession required by the 
early Christians was exceedingly simple. After hear- 
ing the gospel preached and understanding its require- 
ments, it was only needful for the person seeking 
admission into the church to declare his trust in Christ 
as his personal Savior. An illustration of this is seen 
in the instruction given to the jailer at Phillippi, Be- 
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, 
and thy house. 1 ” 

‘‘Yes, sir; yes, sir,” said the Judge, “and Phillip re- 
quired the Ethiopian nobleman to make the same con- 
fession. He preached to him, and the eunuch said, Here 
is water, what hinders my baptism ? The reply was, 
If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest. He 
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God . 2 
That, sir, is what I call a comprehensive confession.” 

“So thought some copyist in the past. Remember- 
ing that such was the usual confession he wrote these 
words on the margin of his copy, and some other per- 
son copying from him, supposed that the words had 
been left out by mistake, and put them in,” said Dr. 
Prescott. 

“What, sir! You don’t mean to say that these 
words are not a part of the Bible. Why, sir, when you 
go to knocking out such Scriptures as this you might 
as well knock out the whole thing and be done with 
it!” 

“Do not be too hasty, Judge, but give this matter 
a careful investigation. This is a question which meets 
every English reader of the Bible. As he reads the Re- 
vised Version and misses some familiar passages he 

1 Acts ltt : 81. 2 Acts 8 : 37. 


*112 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


will naturally wish to know why they are left out. 
The answer is that the majority and oldest copies omit 
these passages. While the Bible has been divinely in- 
spired it has not been divinely insured against the ma- 
ny slight mistakes of those who have made written 
copies of it in the past. But even in this respect a 
remarkable providence has watched over God’s word, 
and has handed down to us a large number, and pre- 
served a wonderfully close agreement, of its copies. I 
now only suggest to you to look into the books of 
Scrivener and Hammond as reliable and safe on text 
criticism. You will also find much that is valuable in 
Horne’s Introdu<5lion.” 

“Botheration ! I .shall feel uncertain about the most 
familiar texts hereafter until I have looked into this 
thing. But, look here, my dear sir, what are the un- 
learned and ignorant masses to do ? They have not 
the time nor ability to look into these things.” 

“They are dependent upon consecrated Christian 
scholarship for the common English version they have, 
and that alone would be sufficient, if they knew noth- 
ing of any other version, for it is generally correct. In 
like manner they can only accept the additional results 
of scholarship which are embodied in the new version. 
As already said, all the changes that can possibly be 
required by the variations of the copies would not 
change a single doctrine of the Bible ” 

“Yes! yes! But I must look into this matter,” said 
the Judge. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


113 


CHAPTER XI. 

THE CONVERSATION CONTINUED. 


“No pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage-ground 
of truth.”— B acon. 

“Returning to the .subject in hand,” said Dr. Pres- 
cott, “I have this further to say, that laler on in the 
history of the gospel, as errors grew respecting its dif- 
ferent truths, the usual confession of faith gradually 
grew, covering all of the disputed points. The so-called 
Apostles’ and Athanasian creeds are both of a very 
early date, and are now preserved in the Roman 
Catholic and Episcopal organizations. As a matter of 
curiosity I should like to know if any one present can 
repeat the Apostles’ creed.” 

After a slight pause Will Mortimer said : “I think I 
can repeat it. Some years ago I learned it perfectly 
from a catechism which I studied in Sunday school. 

“ ‘I believe in God the P'ather Almighty, Maker of 
heaven and earth : and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, 
our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born 
of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was 
crucified, dead and buried, he descended into hell. The 
third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended 
into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Fath- 
er Almighty ; from thence shall come to judge the quick 
and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy 


114 


FROM ERROR \S CHAINS. 


catholic 1 church ; the communion of saints ; the forgive- 
ness of sins ; the resurrection of the body ; and life ever- 
lasting. Amen.’” 

“Thank you, Will. I have called your attention to 
this old confession, which dates back to a very early 
age, to show you how soon in the history of Christian- 
ity it was necessary to gradually extend the ground 
covered by confessions, in order to meet opposition to 
the several doctrines mentioned.” 

“Would it not be well, husband, to tell the compa- 
ny something of the curious stories about this confes- 
sion of faith, and why it is called the Apostles’ creed ?” 
asked Mrs. Prescott. 

“Yes, wife, if it would be of any interest 1 will 
cheerfully do so.” 

“Please tell us, doctor,” said Julia. 

“It is said that this is the earliest written form of 
Christian belief that exists, unless we give the pre- 
cedence to the baptismal formula at the close of 
Matthew’s gospel, out of which many suppose the 
Apostle’s creed to have grown. In the earlier days of 
the Christian religion there were variations of the creed. 
There have been a variety of opinions respecting it. 
The Roman Catholics refer it directly to the Apostles, 
and even have decided which portion of it each Apostle 
wrote out. It is claimed that Peter said, I believe in 
God the Father Almighty ; John said, Maker of heaven 
and earth ; and so on to the end. Rufinus, a writer of 
the fourth century, who gathered historical fragments 
and traditions, says that when the Apostles were a- 
bout to separate and go into different nations they 
agreed upon a ‘form of sound words’ which should ex- 
press their common teaching, they jointly formed this 


1 Catholic means universal lie re. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


115 


confession, each one contributing his share to it, and 
they resolved to use this as their rule of faith for all 
who would believe. It should be remembered that Ru- 
finus is not good authority. While the creed, in its 
present form, cannot claim a higher antiquity than the 
fifth century, it is not improbable that in the days of 
the Apostles some such form of belief existed. 

“Irenaeus, who was the disciple of Polycarp, who 
was the disciple of John, repeats a form of faith not 
very different from this and says that ‘the church dis- 
persed throughout the whole world, had received this 
faith from the Apostles and their disciples.’ 

“Tertullian says also that a similar form had been 
common among Christians ‘from the beginning of the 
gospel.’ Forms of faith presented to applicants for 
membership correspond, with slight variations, to this 
creed. We may therefore conclude that while the form is 
not apostolic, this old creed fairly represents the differ- 
ent elements of religious faith existing among the 
Apostles. 

“As another curious fact I may mention that since 
the Reformation in England, it has been common to 
place this Apostles’ creed and the ten commandments 
in large characters in a conspicuous place in churches, 
generally near the communion table, that they might 
be seen and repeated by the people, who generally had 
no books. This is sometimes done in Roman Catholie 
and Episcopal churches in our own country.” 

“Very well, .sir. Very well!” exclaimed the Judge. 
“You have given us an excellent account of the Apos- 
tles’ creed, as it is called. Now if the rest of the compa- 
ny approve, I should like to have you give an answer 
to a question which interests me, and which I have be- 
fore mentioned this evening.” 


116 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Pausing a moment to allow any one to speak who 
might desire to do so, the Judge continued : 

“As there is such a great difference of opinion as to 
what the Scriptures really do teach, and this too a- 
mong devout Christians, as you contend, sir — Chris- 
tians who earnestly study the pages of inspiration — I 
am stating the case as you clergymen claim it exists — 
why have we no inspired summary of Christian doc- 
trine? That’s what I should like to know. Why does 
not the Bible give us a connected system of doctrine in 
ship-shape — a plain unmistakable ‘Thus saith the 
Lord’ — in words so plain that no block-head could 
make any mistake about the meaning ? Then there 
could not beany of this tom -foolery about orthodoxy.” 

Judge Norman was inclined to be a trifle intolerant 
and often exhibited impatience towards those who pre- 
sumed to doubt the correctness of his opinions. There 
was a tinge of this spirit in his utterance just recorded. 
Remembering our own proneness to make mistakes, 
each one should cultivate the broadest charity and for- 
bearance towards those who honestly hold different 
opinions. Was it not the great Protestant scholar, 
Chillingworth, who exclaimed; “The Bible! the Bible 
alone! the religion of Protestants ?” Yet the Bible can- 
not form a platform of union sufficiently broad for 
Protestants to stand upon, even in opposition to the 
Romish idea of church authority as equal with Bible 
authority, against which Chillingworth was speaking. 
For many Protestants hold to views and practices 
which cannot possibly be defended upon the authority 
of the Bible alone, but were originally introduced upon 
church authority. 

“In reply to your question, Judge, permit me to 
say that God seems never to pursue such a plan. He 


FROM -FFROR’s CHAINS. 


117 


never furnishes things ready prepared to the hand of 
man. Let me illustrate. The material world abounds 
in wood, stone, iron, brass and all other mineral sub- 
stances. But man must go out into this abounding 
material and with his muscle and skill, must fell the 
trees and quarry the rock, and separate metals from 
their ore, and then, by combining these materials, must 
build his house or construct his machines of utility or 
his works of beauty. In his earliest years his habita- 
tion was very nfde and simple in its construction ; but 
as he advanced in civilization he has devoted more at- 
tention to durability of structure and elaborate orna- 
mentation. So in the Bible there are found, in grand 
sublimity, the materials out of which the Christian is 
to construct his system of belief. All of the necessary 
material is so unmistakable, as to kind, that the way- 
faring man though a fool need not err therein. The 
true foundation is pointed out. Other foundation can 
no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ . 1 
Upon this solid foundation of faith in Jesus Christ men 
may of their gathered material, build a true system of 
faith as well as a true Christian character. There may 
be many kinds of material, the nature of which the 
Christian builder may not be able to understand. 
These he may admire and may reverently endeavor to 
comprehend and yet be willing to patiently wait for 
the clearer and brighter light of eternity, and the sin- 
less life, to illuminate them and so give better views of 
them.” 

“Do vou think tho.se doctrines which the Christian 
does not understand, and which seem to involve con- 
tradiction, should be harmonized with clearly revealed 
truths, or be left out of the building altogether?” 


1 1 Cor. 3 : 11. 


118 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


asked Mr. Dixon, recurring to the figure of architec- 
ture as applied to the forming of doctrinal s^^stems. 

“I think,” replied Dr. Prescott, “that in construct- 
ing his form of belief every one should be careful not to 
reject that which he cannot understand, if it be clearly 
taught. In searching through the landscapes and for- 
ests and mines of revealed truth, if the Christian 
chances to discover a mass of granite, which upon ex- 
amination he finds to be the truth, Hear, 0 Israel, 
Jehovah, th\ r God is one Jehovah; 1 and -hard by should 
find immense boulders of marble, which are jesus 
Christ and the Holy Spirit equal in all divine perfec- 
tions with each other and with the Father, which 
threaten to topple over upon and crush to atoms the 
granite, let him not be uneasy. If he is sure these 
truths both exist, though apparently contradictory — 
if the truth of three persons in the Godhead, equal in 
every divine perfection, seems to contradict the unity 
of God — it is because he sees through a glass darkly. 
If he learns that God is infinitely good and yet sees 
that moral evil exists in the world, which seems plain- 
ly to contradict his very reason, let faith be his guide 
until he can know even as he is known.” 

“Why, uncle, that is the same old difficulty we were 
speaking o‘f some weeks ago,” said Julia to Mr. Ash- 
ton. “It seems to me that it constantly meets us all 
through this strange life.” 

“Yes, my dear, it is one of those problems which 
confront us every where upon the highways of life, 
but which we cannot fully solve.” 

“Excuse me, doctor, for interrupting you. Will you 
not proceed ?” said Julia to the pastor. 

“If the Christian, in his building up of a -system of 


1 Deut. (J : 4. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


119 


faith, learns that God has chosen some persons in 
Christ before the foundation of the world and ordain- 
ed them to salvation and eternal life, and has determin- 
ed not to bestow salvation upon others ; and yet, on 
the other hand, that the offers of salvation are extend- 
ed freely and sincerely to all , and that, whosoever will, 
may come to Christ and be saved, let him remember 
that secret things belong to God and things that are 
revealed unto us and our children. 

“I would say, therefore,” continued Dr. Prescott, 
“that if any of us find any thing clearly taught, we 
should accept it in simple faith, knowing that our 
range of spiritual vision is, at best, exceedingly circum- 
scribed. There is a great difference between accepting 
a thing as taught and the ability to understand and 
explain it. As in the material world there are many 
things which we may see and know to exist, and yet 
be unable to understand them, so in the Bible we may 
see many things and know that they are clearly 
taught, though their comprehension lies far beyond the 
utmost powers of the mind.” 

‘‘Heigh, ho! my dear sir, are you not digressing? 
Shall I not be compelled to rule against you as intro- 
ducing irrelevant matters ? We were considering the 
cpiestion of why have we no plain unmistakable con- 
fession of faith in the Bible, and here you are splitting 
hairs between the comprehensible and incomprehensi- 
ble. I shall be obliged to rule you out of court unless 
you hold on to the proposition before you.” 

“I beg your pardon, Judge, but I have only been 
amplifying my statement that God, in other depart- 
ments, has not acted upon the plan that a complete 
system of doctrine in revealed truth would imply. I 
now call your attention to this further fact. Had the 


120 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Scriptures given us a clear, formal and unmistakable 
statement of doctrine, we would have been deprived of 
the strongest stimulant to earnest study of its blessed 
doctrines. Since its glories exist in their grand un- 
polished outlines, man’s powers of mind and heart are 
called into exercise in arranging and classifying its ma- 
terials and in shaping them into such structures as his 
mind and heart seem to need. The active exercise of 
his mental powers is in this way called out and his 
heart is brought into loving contact with the Bible. 
This promotes his growth in grace and in the knowl- 
edge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Being stimulated to 
search the Scriptures the devout Bible student is made 
better, for he is to be sanctified by the truth of God’s 
word . 1 Such exercise strengthens the inner nature as 
bodily exercise strengthens the physical nature. By 
this exercise nourishment for the soul’s growth is gath- 
ered, as the exercise of the physical secures nourish- 
ment, shelter and clothing for the body. 

“Again, if in the material world, the forests and 
mines and quarries did not exist, but instead of them 
their materials were already manufactured into houses 
and engines and clothing, and if all the materials of 
food were already prepared for man to eat, all stimulus 
to activity would be cut off, and man would have 
nothing to do but pass his time in idleness. Such would 
also be true of his religious nature if he had received a 
form of belief, read}' manufactured to his hand.” 

“You begin to make out a case, my dear sir,” ex- 
claimed the Judge. “So far, so good, sir. What next?” 

“From the very nature of the case, it was impossi- 
ble for a full and complete formula of faith to be fur- 
nished us.” # 

1 John 17 : 17. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


121 


“What, sir! Impossible! Why, sir, all things are 
possible with God.” 

“Yes, Judge, reverently it may be said that it was 
impossible for God to give us in the Bible a plain and 
unmistakable .system of all the doctrines of religion. 
1 here might have been an orderly .statement of those 
things that must be known to be saved, but there 
could not have been such a full writing out of these 
things as would give man a full understanding of God. 
Everything he needs to know may be gathered from 
the Bible and made into a form of belief. But there are 
lofty ranges of mountains which man could never 
scale ; there are ocean depths in the nature of God he 
could never fathom ; there are mines of precious stones 
which his industry could never reach. 

“We wonder at the discoveries and inventions man 
has made, and at his progress in science ; and yet who 
t will say that the mysteries in the material world have 
all been fully solved ? As it is the work of an infinite 
hand, man can never master its mysteries. As the Bible 
comes from an infinite mind man can never exhaust its 
treasures of spiritual truth. Man is constantly search- 
ing into the wonders of Nature and there are continual- 
ly opening before him new scenes of beauty to challenge 
his admiration. Devout men are ever searching into 
the wonders of revealed truth and new views of divine 
glory and beauty are constantly opening before them. 
But both Nature and the Bible are exhaustless, and, 
therefore, can never be fully comprehended by the 
finite.” 

“Bravo!. You reason well, my dear sir,” exclaimed 
the Judge. “I think I have gained a better view of the 
propriety of being left to build our own system of faith 
from the materials furnished by the Bible.” 


122 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“If what I have said be just,” continued Dr. Pres- 
cott, “there are several things worthy to be remember- 
ed: A form of faith is merely a structure built by indi- 
viduals or churches containing what is believed to be 
taught in the Bible. But there is no earthly power 
having authority to bind any such form upon the ac- 
ceptance of men. 

“By a singular providence the local churches of 
every age have agreed substantially, as to the teach- 
ings of the Bible, and so have preserved the unity of 
the Spirit in the bonds of peace. 

“Every individual Christian ought to make an 
original investigation of the teachings of the Bible and 
frame a confession of faith and commit to writing 
what he believes the Scriptures to teach. It will be a 
most profitable exercise. Of course, the Bible should be 
read for devotional purposes, that the soul may feast 
upon the food of heaven. But, besides this, every one 
should have clear views of the doctrinal teachings of 
the Bible. Let every one be fully persuaded in his own 
mind . 1 Every one who studies the Bible ought to make 
up his mind to meet with mysteries in it, and to accept 
its clear teachings on any subject, however incompre- 
hensible these teachings may be.” 

“Thank you, my dear sir, for your explanation of 
these things. While you have not lighted up all the 
dark places, sir, you have at least made out a case, and 
suggested to me some things that I must look into.” 
said the Judge to Dr. Prescott, as the friends were dis- 
persing. “And to you, friend Ashton, and Miss Julia, 
we are indebted for a pleasant evening. I suggest that 
we meet again to talk over other matters,” continued 
the Judge; and soon all had left Ashton Hall. 

1 Rom. 14 : 5. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


123 


CHAPTER XII. 


SUFFERINGS FOR TRUTH. 


“It is the cause, and not- the dentil, that makes the martyr.” — 
Napolron. 

A year has passed. It is June again. 

“I half believe I am growing skeptical. Life seems 
to be a strangely mixed up affair. If God is good and 
does not approve of evil and takes no pleasure in hu- 
man suffering and misery, as he is represented in the 
Bilile, and if he could have prevented all by an exertion 
of his power, why is this world so full of human sorrow 
and misery ? Why this dark tide of human woe that 
for centuries has been rolling over the race ? Who can 
give a picture of the ills that continually wring the 
hearts and torture the souls of human beings ? Who 
can paint the horrors of war, and pestilence, and fam- 
ine, and intemperance, and murder, and falsehood, and 
oppression, and disease, and death ? I stand aghast as 
I behold the torrent of sin and woe and death that is 
constantly engulfing the human race.” 

Such were the musings of Julia Ashton as she sat 
in her easy chair on this bright June morning. 

“Life is a stupendous enigma. Is there any God? 
Is he a being of infinite goodness, as we are told ? I 
half wish I might go to sleep and never wake up again. 


124 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


To be blotted out of existence! To lay down forever 
the fitful, feverish, restless dream of life ! This, it seems 
to me, would be infinitely better than to be compelled 
to endure ceaseless suffering for sins committed. Why 
can we not be permitted to throw down a conscious 
existence when we have nothing to expect but endless 
torture. The pure life of my sainted mother ; the sim- 
ple, child -like goodness of my uncle ; the strong faith 
and benevolent life of Dr. Prescott ; the gentle faith and 
sweet life of Mrs. Prescott; and the undoubted piety of 
a few other Christians of my acquaintance, do seem to 
be proofs that there is a God and he is good. These are 
the only cords that hold me back from rank skepticism. 
But for these I could almost curse God and die — Horri- 
ble ! — Why do I have such thoughts ! — Ah, me ! what 
an evil heart of unbelief I have! — Oh, for deliverance 
from sin ! — Oh, for escape from myself ! — Is there any 
hope ? — Is there any possibility for such a wicked per- 
son as I to be saved ? — Oh, God, have mercy ! — ” 

The troubled girl buried her face in her hands as if 
to hide from this storm of anguish, and wept as 
though her heart would break. There is relief in tears. 
They are an outlet for the heart’s pent up sorrow, and, 
though they do not satisfy the longings of the soul, 
they furnish a temporal quiet to its grief. Feeling 
somewhat calmer she suddenly started up. 

“I have no time to spend in this weak girlish non- 
sense. Our guests will soon be here. I wish I might be 
relieved from the necessity of appearing today, for I am 
totally unfit for company. Oh, I do not want to see 
any one ! But uncle, dear good soul, has set his heart 
on having the visit of some of his friends repeated to- 
day. Dr. and Mrs. Prescott, Judge Norman and Will 
Mortimer will be here. I know they will wish to speak 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


125 


of religious subjects. Such is becoming torture to my 
soul. How I wish I might escape at least that part of 
today’s trials. But for uncle’s sake I will appear my 
very best. 

“Somehow Will is a very interesting character to 
me. Some time since he was up in arms against this 
whole religious business, and after a brief but terrible 
struggle he has become wholly enlisted on the other 
side. He seems to be as deeply concerned now that I 
should become religious as he was recently that I 
should throw the whole thing overboard. Here is a 
great mystery ! I cannot comprehend this sudden and 
complete change of base in this young limb of the law. 
Well, for his satisfaction, I wish I could find that true 
life — if there is any other than this miserable one I now 
live. But, alas, I fear my ca.se is hopeless! How su- 
premely wretched I feel today ! But, Julia Ashton, up ! 
You must not indulge these wretched thoughts.’’ 

In due time the guests arrived and were entertained 
by Mr. Ashton until dinner was announced. Julia’s 
household duties prevented her appearance until the 
dinner hour. This was one of those dinners which 
manifest the spirit of true hospitality without any of 
the display and ostentation which often prevail among 
the rich. Such was foreign to the taste and good sense 
of both Julia and her uncle. There was much pleasant 
and profitable conversation during the repast which 
rendered it truly a green spot in the memory of those 
present. 

Another letter from Harry to Will informed him of 
the conversion of one of his brothers, and of the anxie- 
ty of his older brother, Clifford, whom he expected 
soon to see rejoicing. 

He concluded his letter by saying : 


126 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God 
for his great mercy to me. This dear boy, for whom I 
have earnestly prayed, sinee I found the light myself, 
is now rejoicing in the preciousness of his new-found 
hope and life. My cup is running over, and I feel as 
the Psalmist did, Thou preparest a table before me in 
the presence of mine enemies ; thou anointest my head 
with oil ; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and 
mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ; and I will 
dwell in the house of the Lord forever . 1 Certainly, I 
will join you in praying regularly that cousin Julia 
may also find the love of him whose love passes all un- 
derstanding. Ma\ r she speedily be led into the light of 
the children of God.” « 

While this was being read the fair hostess was 
momentarily swayed with emotion and tears were in 
her eyes, but she resolutely repressed her feeling and 
was soon perfectly calm and her features were almost 
rigid. Although she was well-nigh in despair, one by 
one were the links forged which were binding her to a 
higher and better life. 

She took very little part in the conversation which 
occupied two after-dinner hours very pleasantly, but a 
close observer could easily perceive that she was an in- 
tensely interested listener, carefully noting every thing 
that might afford any light or hope to her troubled 
soul. 

At an early period in the conversation Mr. Ashton 
said : 

“Our thoughts, in a conversation last summer, 
were directed to the gradual building up of confessions 
of faith as it became needful to have fuller expressions 
of Scripture doctrine for Christians to unite upon. 

J Psa. 28 : 5 — 6. 


/ 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


127 


“It is interesting to see how this truth of God was 
so strong in the hearts of his people that the love fol- 
ium who died for them helped them to endure every 
kind of suffering or torture rather than deny him. I 
have often wondered how many Christians today 
would hold fast their profession if they knew that to do 
so would be certain death. I fear many would recant 
rather than die.” 

“My dear sir, permit me to ask a question just 
here,” said the Judge. “What does our Savior mean 
when he says, If any man come to me, and hate not 
his father and mother, and wife and children, and 
brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he can- 
not be my disciple P 1 Seems to me, sir, that is rather a 
severe tax on poor human nature.” 

“I refer you, Judge, to the doctor,” said Mr. 
Ashton. 

“He does not mean to teach hatred in these rela- 
tions, Judge. He means to teach that faithfulness to 
him should be so far above these earthly ties that when 
there is a conflict of claims, these earthly loves should 
sink so far out of sight that we may be said to hate. 
We should regard such ties in comparison with his 
claims as though we hate in these relations. It is a 
striking way of saying that duty to him is supreme.” 

“How glad I am, my dear sir, that it is fashionable 
and popular to be religious,” exclaimed the Judge. 
“Why, sir, it’s nobody’s business what I believe and 
practice,” he added forgetting his own intolerance of 
the opinions of all who differed with him. 

“It has not always been so, Judge. It is but little 
more than a century since it became possible for men 
to believe and worship according to their views of the 

1 Luke 14 : 26. 


128 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


teachings of the Bible without being molested,” re- 
marked Dr. Prescott. 

“I remember that, sir. I remember that men have 
been tortured and killed for their religious views. But 
I am glad I did not live in those days,” replied the 
Judge with emphasis. 

“Suppose you tell us something of the sufferings of 
Christians for their faith,” said Will. 

“I do not object to this, if agreeable to these 
friends.” 

“Go on, sir,” said the Judge. “But I must say I am 
very glad all that tom -foolery of burning and killing 
people has been done away. It would be uncomfort- 
able to feel that your head was always in danger if you 
did not believe and practice as men wanted you to, and 
then too it would be a serious interference with busi- 
ness, sir. It was heathenish and abominable.” 

“It was declared beforehand that .such would come 
to pass,” said Dr. Prescott. “Our Lord himself was 
bitterly persecuted. He was hated because the truth he 
taught came in conflict with the evil passions of men’s 
hearts. He was called Beelzebub, and charged with be- 
ing in league with this prince of evil spirits. His life 
was plotted against, and finally destroyed, for no oth- 
er reason than that he condemned evil and came to 
destroy the works of the Devil.” 

“Wicked wretches! Horrible, my dear sir!” 

“He also told his disciples that they might expect 
such treatment. It is enough for the disciple that he be 
as his Master, and the servant as his Lord. If they 
have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how 
much more shall they call them of his household . 1 
Once he said , 2 Think not that I am come to send peace 

1 Matt. 10 : 26. 2 Matt. 10 : 34. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


129 


on the earth : I came not to send peace but a sword. 
Again he said, I am come to send fire on earth, and 
what will I if it be already kindled F 1 ” 

“Came to send a sword ! Came to send five ! Why, 
my dear sir, that seems very strange for the Prince of 
pence ! How’s that?” asked the Judge. 

“It is not that the peaceful teachings of Jesus have 
a tendency to produce conflict, but that they stir up 
the wickedness of our hearts and this sin within us 
draws the sword to fight against the truths taught by 
Jesus. Wicked men not only want to fight the truth, 
but the}' want to fight every one who receives the 
truth. Jesus says, Blessed are ye when men shall revile 
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil 
aginst you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceed- 
ing glad : for great is your reward in heaven ; for so 
persecuted the} r the prophets which were before you . 2 
He again warns them, They shall lay their hands on 
you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the syna- 
gogue, and into prisons, being brought before kings 
and rulers for my name’s sake . 3 All who will live god- 
ly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution , 4 said the 
Apostle of Jesus. 

“These things have come to pass and thousands of 
Christians have sealed their testimony with their 
blood. All of the Apostles, except perhaps, John, were 
put to death for their faith ; and tradition says that 
John was once thrown into a caldron of boiling oil.” 

“Those were dreadful times, my dear sir. I am 
afraid religious folks now- a- days would -throw the 
whole thing overboard to save their heads and hides.” 

“Some did then, Judge. But the great majority of 
the Christians, in a brave strong trust, were cheerful 

1 Luke 12 : 49. 2 Matt. 5 : 11 - 12. & Luke 21 : 12. 4 2 Tim. 3 : 12. 


130 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


as the fire gathered around them to destroy them, or 
as they were killed in other ways. Peter, by his own 
request, was nailed to a cross with his head down- 
wards, saying he was unworthy to be crucified like his 
Lord whom he had denied. 

“It is refreshing,’’ continued Dr. Prescott, “to read 
these words of that same impulsive man, in one of his 
letters, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the 
fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange 
thing happened to you : but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are 
partakers of Christ’s sufferings : that when his glory 
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding 

joy - 1 

“The beloved disciple in the wonderful visions 
which passed before him on the isle of Patmos, saw un- 
der the altar the souls of Christ’s faithful witnesses 
and it was said of them, These are they which have 
come out of great tribulation, and have washed their 
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb . 2 
The religious leaders of the Jews, when Jesus came, 
persecuted him violently, thirsted for his blood, and at 
last wreaked their vengeance upon him by stirring up 
the weak and vascillating Roman governor, Pontius 
Pilate, to put him to death. In like manner Stephen 
incurred their bitter hatred, and, like his Master, as 
they were stoning him, prayed for his murderers. 3 ” 

“What sort of a case was made out against these 
religious people, my dear sir ? Surely there must have 
been some sort of a plea made against them.” 

“There was a plea, Judge. About the time that the 
New Testament writings were finished the Roman em- 
perors found out that the religion of Jesus was a new 
religion and was not a form of Judaism as they had 

1 1 Pet. 4 : 12 - 18. 2 Rev. 7 : 14. 3 Acts 7 : 60. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


131 


supposed. It was the polic}^ of the Roman govern- 
ment not to interfere with the religions of conquered 
provinces. But it was against the law to introduce a 
new religion. As soon as it became known that the 
religion of our Lord was a new religion the fury of the 
Roman emperors was unchained against the Chris- 
tians. They were hunted like wild beasts and were 
murdered in the most cruel manner. They were covered 
with tar and set on fire to light up the gardens of Nero. 
They were thrown to wild beasts in the amphitheatre. 
They were beheaded by the gladiator. They were 
stoned and sawn asunder. They were burned at the 
stake. They were tortured with all the cruelty that 
their enemies could invent.’,’ 

“My dear sir, these things harrow up my very soul. 
I am very, very glad I did not live in the age of persecu- 
tion,’’ said the Judge. “Before you mention any cases 
of suffering for religious belief I would like to ask you 
something more of this government and religion mix- 
ing business. That seems to be your opinion of the 
beginning of this tom -foolery of killing people because 
they want to believe differently from you.” 

“From the earliest times, Judge, religion and 
government were so linked together, so intertwined 
the one with the other, that to have a different faith, 
or engage in a different worship, was regarded as trea- 
son and disloyalty to the government. This is now 
one of the difficulties in giving the gospel to heathen 
nations. To give up their idols and accept the religion 
of the Lord Jesus Christ is, to them, the same thing as 
turning away from their government and avowing al- 
legiance to some other government. It is very hard to 
get it out of their minds that becoming a Christian is 
unpatriotic and treasonable. 


132 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“This was exactly the case when the Apostles went 
out to preach the gospel of Christ. This religion seem- 
ed to the emperors to be disloyalty to the government 
and so all of its followers were treated as traitors and 
seditious persons. Their pure and holy lives ought to 
have been sufficient to disprove any such charge. But 
the deep - seated and terrible hatred of the hearts of the 
rulers made them delight to kill the Christians. This 
charge of treason, steadily urged by native corruption, 
produced all the dark and bloody scenes through 
which God’s faithful children passed.” 

“Are there not three classes into which these perse- 
cutions of God’s people have been arranged?” asked 
Mr. Ashton. 

“Yes, sir. The persecution of the Jews, beginning 
far back in their national history', in which prophets 
and divine messengers, and, later, Jesus our Lord and 
his followers, were treated with cruel indignities and 
death. Next came the persecutions of pagan or hea- 
then rulers, in which many thousand devoted Chris- 
tians suffered death. Lastly were the cruelties prac- 
ticed by professed Christians upon those who faith- 
fully served the Master. 

“As samples of Jewish persecutions we may call to 
mind that dignified religious council of the Jews, organ- 
ized to decide all questions of religion, which condemned 
to death the Lord of heaven and earth. Saul of Tarsus 
was no doubt a member of this court at a later time, for 
he confesses to giving his vote for the death of Chris- 
tians. This was the body which condemned the pious 
Stephen to death and if Saul was not a member of it 
then he approved its decision, for he was ‘ consenting ’ 
to Stephen’s death and the murderers laid their tunics 
at the feet of Saul.” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


133 


The June sun was sinking in the west in “a blaze of 
glory ” when the guests took their departure from Ash- 
ton Hall, feeling that a most delightful day had been 
enjoyed, notwithstanding the rather serious turn the 
conversation had taken. The young hostess, Julia, 
with a desperate effort, threw off the serious impres- 
sions made upon her mind by the topics of conversa- 
tion, and declared her superiority over such girlish 
whims. Ho w long this superiority was maintained we 
shall see. 


134 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

AMIDST CLASSIC SCENEERY. 


The hues of bliss more brightly glow, 

Chastised by sabler tints of woe. 

— Gray, 

Late in June Judge Norman called at Ashton Hall 
one afternoon and said to Mr. Ashton, who, with Julia, 
was seated upon a rustic seat in the summer arbor. 

“I have just called a moment, my dear sir, to offer 
a lawyer’s prescription for this charming niece of yours. 
Our school exercises are all over and Miss Julia looks 
a little bit worn. I do abominate doctors’s pill-bags 
and other stuffs and I want her to take one of my pills 
in time and so save a dozen doctor’s pills. What say 
you, my dear sir ? What say you, Miss Julia ? ” 

“ We can better answer, Judge, after we have heard 
what your prescription is, and are convinced of its 
adaptation to the patient.” 

“It is this, my dear sir. A few of us have ar- 
ranged to run out forty miles on the railway and spend 
tomorrow on the banks of the beautiful Seneca, and 
we wish this young lady to be one of the party. The 
weather is rather sultry, to be sure ; but the fresh air 
and the cool shade and the beautiful scenery along the 
river will be a most delightful recreation and relief from 
city life.” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


135 


“If my niece chooses to follow your prescription , 
Judge, it will meet with my hearty approval.” 

The Judge found no difficulty in persuading Julia to 
place herself under his treatment. 

Eight o’clock next morning found a jolly group of 
friends on the banks of the beautiful Seneca. Numbers 
of the finny tribe were drawn from their watery home ; 
such wild flowers as were left by the ardent rays of the 
sun were gathered ; ferns were plucked from their shady 
nooks; and all sorts of floral decorations were wrought 
and ornaments in man}' fantastic modes adorned the 
members of the party. 

By some sort of affinity, which the reader will readily 
understand, Jtilia Ashton and Will Mortimer had wan- 
dered together quite apart from the company, of which 
Judge Norman was the centre, and whom he kept in 
the most pleasant mood by his sallies of wit and over- 
flowing good humor. 

Will and Julia were seated together upon a moss- 
covered rock, while there rose behind them almost 
perpendicularly for many feet a ledge of irregular 
granite boulders. 

“ Miss Julia, you look like a wood nymph who had 
just stepped out from the heart of that large chestnut 
tree to see how summer fares, and you will pardon me 
for saying, 

‘ Ne’er did Grecian chisel trace 
A nymph, a Naiad, or a Grace 
Of finer form, or lovlier face.’ ” 

“Oh, Will, do hush; you seem to be in apoetic frame 
of mind, and I assure you I am the most unpoetic 
and common place creature in existence. I feel any- 
thing else than nymph like today. But, look there! 
What is that?” she asked in great excitement, point- 
ing to some object near a mass of rock that had fallen 


136 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


from an overhanging crag, and on which spikes of the 
beautiful but deadly fox-glove grew. 

In a moment Will saw a large adder in his coil, 
with his sparkling eyes flashing with a deadly hate. 

“Be perfectly still, Miss Julia, while I try to kill 
him, which I can do if I can manage to get that club, 
unless it proves to be rotten,” he whispered. 

A well directed blow was aimed at the venomous 
serpent and would no doubt have been successful in 
killing it, but at the critical moment the mass of loose 
rock on which Will stood began to slide, and the fright- 
ened serpent uncoiled and retreated, and raising its 
head and shaking its forked tongue it soon disappeared 
underneath the mass of stone. 

The loosened stone which had given away with the 
weight of Will continued to slide, and, his foot be- 
coming fastened between two large boulders, he was 
dragged downward to the river with the sliding mass. 

What could a young woman do under such circum- 
stances but scream ? Julia did not scream, but seizing 
the long and stout club which had fallen from Will’s 
hand she thrust it into the opening near Will’s foot, in 
an instant, before the moving mass had acquired any 
momentum and prized with all of her strength. Of 
course her strength was as nothing in moving a ton of 
rock, but she followed the moving mass with a firm 
hold upon her lever, hoping that some irregularity of 
the ground might help her in opening the stony jaws. 
Down to the ver}^ water’s edge she followed her friend, 
holding to her lever. The water aided her, for, when 
she could go no farther, the weight of the water checked 
the progress of the stone and with one last prize of her 
lever the boulders released their victim from their death- 
grip. With a little assistance from her, Will was soon 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


137 


safe again upon firm ground, but thoroughly drenched. 
When she saw her friend once more safe and sound 
what was more natural than that she should sit down 
and cry. Thus they were found b} 7 " Clifford Burton and 
Judge Norman, who had gone out to hunt up the wan- 
derers. 

“Here, my dear Miss Julia, greet this young man ! ” 
exclaimed the Judge. But taking in the situation he 
said, “Heigh ho! what does all this mean? Here’s 
Will as wet as a drowned rat and Julia crying like a 
spanked baby! Explain yourselves.’’ 

“It means just this, Judge, that the bravery and 
heroism of this young lady has saved me from a wa- 
tery grave, and now she is crying about it.’’ 

Drying her tears the young lady said : 

“No'special credit is due me, I have no bravery and 
heroism, and could have rendered Will no assistance 
bad not an apparent foe been suddenly changed into a 
helpful friend. The weight and resistance of the water 
of the beautiful Seneca made it possible to release Will 
from the deadly grip of the rocks. So let all praises be 
bestowed upon the friendly waters.” 

Of course, both cousin and friend were delighted at 
the unexpected meeting with Clifford Burton, but greet- 
ings were scarce^ over when Will Mortimer fainted 
and lay pale and still upon the river’s rocky bank. The 
intuition of woman again came to the rescue, for in an 
instant Julia had seized the 3'oung man’s hat, filled it 
with sparkling water and was bathing the face and 
temples of her friend. Consciousness was soon restored, 
and, with the aid of Judge Norman and Clifford, Will 
was soon in the rude but cozy home of the manager of 
the neighboring farm. The manager was a friend and 
former parishioner of Dr. Prescott, an acquaintance of 


138 


FROM ERRORS CHAINS. 


the Judge, and the very embodiment of country hospi- 
tality. All the needed restorative were applied and 
it was found that no serious injury had been sustained, 
only a few bruises which would be an inconvenience in 
walking possibly for some days. 

The wet clothing was removed and dried by a blaz- 
ing fire while Will, in a suit of the manager’s best, reclined 
comfortably in an easy chair, entertaining the company 
with a narrative of the adventure, sounding the 
praise of Julia in many variations. 

“ Will,” said Julia, “You profess to be my friend and 
to be chivalrous to woman. Now, if you respedt a 
lady’s wish, say nothing more of me in connection with 
this dreadful affair. You know you would not have 
happened to that unfortunate accident if you had not 
attempted to kill that deadly serpent for my ‘protec- 
tion, and that I would have been powerless to help you 
if a kindly fate had not interposed. If you don’t leave 
me out of all further mention of this matter I’ll — do 
something dreadful.” 

“As I do not wish you to do anything dreadful I 
will cheerfully yield to your wish, Miss Julia.” 

“That hateful snake was the cause of the whole 
thing anyway. I wonder why such horrid things as 
snakes should be allowed to mar this beautiful world any 
way. It seems that everywhere and in all circum- 
stances there is something deadly and destructive to 
mar our happiness. In that place of rare beauty where 
we were resting and enjoying the balmy air, on that 
shattered mass of rock which had fallen from its origi- 
nal elevation, there were the flowery but fatal charms 
of the fox-glove, a poisoned beauty, and there was the 
haunt of the deadly adder and his poisonous brood. 
Poison and death seemed to lurk in that place of ex- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


139 


quisite natural beauty, on the alert to strike their un- 
suspecting victims.” 

As she .spoke a pang shot through one other hands 
and she discovered by a mark of discoloration that she 
had sustained a painful bruise on one of her hands in 
her attempt to rescue her friend. In her anxiety she had 
not before noticed this. 

Immediately the kind hearted hostess had her hand 
bandaged and such remedies applied as were at hand, 
and Julia protested that she felt comparatively com- 
fortable. 

“So much for following a prescription of nry distin- 
guished friend, Judge Norman,” saidjulia with an arch 
look at the Judge. “ Two of us will now be compelled 
to lie up for repairs, no telling how long ; and ever so 
much legal business will suffer for lack of a young bar- 
rister to look after it.” 

“ Botheration on the business, m3" dear Miss Julia! 
Besides, the prescription is in no wise responsible for 
your mishaps. I shall also be ver3" much surprised if 
there is no development of wounds more serious than 
these just treated by our good friends,” said the Judge 
with a knowing wink. 

^ It must be confessed that this salty of the Judge 
brought roses to the cheeks of the beautiful girl, but 
this was hardly noticed on account of the arrival of a 
messenger from the distinguished gentleman who owned 
the large farm managed by their host. This gentleman 
lived all alone in his stately and elegant mansion, once 
the home of an illustrious statesman whose daughter 
the present occupant had married. His wife had died 
and one of his two children had been killed in a railroad 
accident, and the other was living with her grand-pa- 
rents at a distance. So this distinguished gentleman, 


140 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


who himself had been much in public life, lived all alone 
in the beauty and elegance of the old mansion. He had 
heard of the presence of friends of his esteemed man- 
ager, who had come out from the “ mountain city ” for 
a day’s outing, and sent a most cordial invitation for 
the whole company to come and dine with him and en- 
joy with him as a great rarity some extra late straw- 
berries from plants he had received from a, friend in 
Washington. He had heard of Dr. Prescott and Judge 
Norman and desired to entertain them and would take 
no denial. 

It was decided that all should go except Will, who 
pleaded that his “bunged-up” appearance made him 
un-presentable. Julia also pleaded to be left with the 
kind hostess with whom she already felt entirely at 
home. 

The distance was only a few hundred yards and by 
twelve o’clock our friends were seated in the elegant 
parlor of the mansion which was for so long a time the 
home of the statesman who was one of the three great- 
est men America has ever produced. The host was 
courteous and deferential to his guests, the impersona- 
tion of the grace and chivalry of the old-time southern 
gentleman. 

“ I bid you a cordial welcome, gentlemen and ladies, 
to the hospitality of my home. I desire to show }^ou all 
of its apartments, which, because of their association 
with the illustrious dead, should be shrines to every 
patriotic American. But, as I desire your entire party 
to enjoy this treat, I shall defer this until my carriage 
returns with the young man and young lady who met 
with an accident this morning, of which my manager 
informed me but a short time since.” 

In a few minutes more the courteous and kindly old 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


141 


gentleman was extending a cordial welcome to Will 
Mortimer and Julia Ashton, the former with his foot 
bandaged and walking with the aid of a stick, and the 
latter with her hand “ludicrously bundled up,” as she 
declared. 

Of these “ un-presentable ” features, however, their 
distinguished host took no notice, except to ask if the}^ 
suffered much. He seemed to live in the memories of the 
illustrious past and to find unceasing pleasure in men- 
tioning the mam r interesting reminiscences which he 
cherished. 

“Here, said he, in another parlor of the mansion,” 
is the very place where I stood when I was married to the 
only daughter of American’s greatest statesman. This 
is something prized very highly by the family, for it was 
presented to my father-in-law while he was vice- Presi- 
dent of the United States— Here is a souvenir from 
Belgium while he was secretary of war. This book is 
from a distinguished European statesman, presented 
while he was in the Senate, and is a proof that his abili- 
ties received foreign recognition,” and so the pleasant 
old gentleman entertained his guests until dinner was 
announced. 

The strawberries constituted the finishing touch. 

“I have here, ladies and gentlemen, three varieties 
of berries, the names of which, plague me, I do not re- 
member. Their rarity and value consists in the fact 
that they are in the very best of their bearing season 
when all other berries, except the black-berry, have had 
their day and gone. But, in spite of the fact that they 
come in at a very unseasonable time, for straw-berries, 
their flavor is very fine. Don’t you think so, Judge?” 

“Indeed I do, my dear sir! They are capital, sir! 
They are superb in flavor.” 


142 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


The ladies were escorted to the parlor, while the 
host, Dr. Prescott and Judge Norman and such others 
as chose to go, were invited into the sitting room of 
the host. 

“I have here, gentlemen, pipes and pipes, or cigars. 
Judge, I offer you a pipe which is one hundred years 
old, and is historical. It was presented to my wife’s 
maternal grand-father in treating for this old farm, 
which is now the property of your lonely old host. As 
you see, it is made of soap stone, weighs one pound, 
and has an elaborate carving of an Indian’s head. It 
is an honor to smoke from a pipe with such associa- 
tions.” 

“Indeed it is, my dear sir. I shall always remem- 
ber the honor of this occasion, I assure you, sir.” 

Later the host said : 

“There are some other things I must show you be- 
fore you depart. You need reach the railway station 
only by the time it is dusk, for your train does not pass 
until in the night.” 

The entire company was escorted out into the yard, 
which was carpeted with a beautiful velvet like cover- 
ing of green, with a few majestic oaks here and there. 

“I need no lightningrods,” remarked the host, “for 
any novice in science knows that every spire of this 
grass is an electric conductor. When did you ever hear 
of a tree or house struck by lightning where there was 
a carpet of grass like this ? ’ ’ 

“Here is my dairy” said the host. “You observe 
that I have all of the modern appliances for cleanliness 
and ventilation. Everything in that dairy goes on 
like clock work. I have an Irishman who thoroughly 
understands the dairy business and has nothing to do 
but look after the stock and dairy. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


143 


“ There you have a fine view of the farm,” he said, 
pointing to a beautiful level stretch of waving corn and 
cotton, green and luxuriant, in the Seneca valley, up 
and down the river as far as the e^^e reached, at the 
foot of the hills on one of which the elegant mansion 
stood. 

“I have been thinking of bequeathing this farm to 
the State for the founding of an Agricultural College. 
I think I shall do this.” 

“ Bravo ! my dear sir; that will be magnificent. 
You could not do a better thing. It would be quite ap- 
propriate for the farmer bo}^ to be educated among 
such associations,” said the Judge. 

“ Here, mj^ friends, we find this circular building to 
be the great statesman’s library. It is completely sur- 
rounded with a carpet of greensward, you observe, 
which is most grateful to the eye. Under the library is 
an ice-house, where for years the summer’s suppfy of 
ice has been gathered and stored away in the winter. 
The great man’s wife often playfully remarked that she 
preferred having the ice-house under the library in or- 
der to keep her husband’s head cool. But let us enter. 
You will observe that the room has been construdled 
with reference to both light and ventilation.” 

“ This is superb, my dear sir ! I had no idea that a 
statesman needed so extensive a library as this. Why, 
there must be here fifteen or twenty thousand volumes.” 

“I vshould say, Judge, about ten to twelve thou- 
sand volumes. Y^ou over-shot the mark a little. This 
is probably the most extensive private library in the 
State, except, perhaps, that of the Chairman of one of 
the schools in your city, which contains perhaps twenty 
thousand volumes. Back here on this stand is a book 
of superb binding, presented to him by some distin- 


144 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


guished foreigner while he was secretary of war. Here 
also is a life-size bust by some eminent artist, but, 
plague me, if I can call his name now. In this alcove I 
have gathered together his works on different subjects. 
Of course, Judge, you and Dr. Prescott have read his 
Philosophy of Government .” 

“I must confess, my dear sir, that my life has been 
such a busy one that I have been able to dip into it just 
a little,” said the Judge. 

“ Candor compels me to say, though with no small 
degree of shame, that I have never even found time to 
dip into these tomes of your distinguished father-in- 
law,” said Dr. Prescott. 

“ Is it possible that two American citizens, and cit- 
izens of this State, of your age and general intelligence, 
can be found who have never read this immortal work 
of America’s greatest mind ? ” and he turned upon them 
such a look of mingled surprise and pity as made them 
feel for the moment that they had committed an un- 
pardonable sin of omission. 

Will whispered to Julia that his next study should 
certainly be the Philosophy of Government. 

“Here,” continued the host, “we have works on 
science; here legal works and Reports of the various 
States ; here works on history and biography. Here 
we have the very meagre collection of poetry and fiction 
of the great -man. And here we have a few works on 
religion — the different religions of the world, jour 
Christian religion among the rest. You know a man 
who is so constantly absorbed in great questions of 
government has very little time to devote to the super- 
stitions of the world.” 

“ Heigh ho ! my dear sir, you must make a distinc- 
tion there. You must remember that there is a vast 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 14-5 

difference between superstition and our Christian re- 
ligion.” 

“A difference without a distinction,” sneered the 
host. 

“I must protest against this unfair treatment of 
Christianity,” said Dr. Prescott. “No fact in any of 
the histories in your elegant library is so well authen- 
ticated as every fact of the gospel history.” 

“I am willing to admit,” said the host, “that the 
narrative in the four Gospels and Acts is authentic in 
the main, because it is substantially corroborated by 
Josephus and other historians — ” 

“And I am willing to admit,” interrupted the doc- 
tor, “that Josephus and some other historians are in 
the main correCt because their statements are corrobor- 
ated by divine history.” 

“You assume , sir,” said the host. “You beg the 
question in using that word divine. That’s the very 
thing to be proved. I was about to say to you that, 
while admitting the authenticity of the Gospel narra- 
tive as correCt history, I deny everything supernatural. 
Doubtless the followers of Christ honesty believed in 
his miracles, and he himself may have been, an honest 
enthusiast, but he was mistaken, and they were misled 
hy him.” 

“Your admission is all I want. If the Gospels and 
Acts are correCt history, then the miracles must be 
admitted, for if they are thrown out the historians are 
impeached. Besides, if these men were misled the}^ were 
honest in their belief, for they were willing to die for 
their faith, and did die rather than renounce it. Some- 
times men will die for error, but not when they know it 
to be error. They only die for their beliefs when sin- 
cerely held. And the number, since the Apostles, who 


146 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


were thus honestly deceived and honestly died rather 
than give up their deception, is legion. A man is al- 
ways honest when he faces death. When he is willing 
to die for his religious belief, that, I think, is the strong- 
est possible proof of his honesty. Permit me, as this 
has been sprung upon me, to call your attention to 
some marked cases of this kind from books on your own 
shelves on martyrology. 

“Here is the case of Ignatius, of Antioch, who 
was acquainted with Peter and Paul. He was pastor 
for forty years at Antioch, beginning in the year 70, 
the year of the destrudlion of Jerusalem by Titus. He 
was a man of great excellence of character. When the 
emperor Trajan came to Antioch, hoping to protect his 
people, Ignatius stated to the emperor the purpose of 
the Gospel. He was at once cast into prison and tor- 
tured. He was made to hold fire in his hands, to stand 
upon coals, oily papers were placed upon his body and 
set on fire, and his flesh torn with pinchers. When the 
emperor sentenced him to be carried to Rome and torn 
with wild beasts, he said, I thank thee, O Lord, that 
thou hast condescended to honor me with thy love, and 
hast thought me worthy to be bound in iron chains. 
The time of his imprisonment was spent in prayer for 
the peace and prosperity of the church. He was placed 
in an amphitheatre and lions were let loose against him 
who soon tore his body to pieces. Will you pardon me, 
sir, if I mention a few other cases of this kind ? ’’ 

“Go on, sir,” assented the host. 

“I mention Polycarp, a disciple of John and pastor 
of the Smyrna church, Asia Minor, for a number of years. 
He was good, lovable and great. The Christians grew 
in numbers and this aroused persecution. His enemies 
thirsted for his blood. He left the city and concealed 


FROM ERRORS CHAINS. 


• 147 


himself in a neighboring village, praying constantly for 
the peace of his church. Learning that his members 
were being put to the torture to compel them to tell 
where he was, he at once gave himself up, saying, The 
will of the Lord be done. He requested of his enemies 
one hour for prayer, but this pra}^er was continued two 
hours with such sweetness that all who heard admired. 
He was hurried off to the officers, who took him into 
their carriage. Reluctant to execute so good and so 
old a man they urged him to recant his faith in Jesus. 
He replied, eighty-six years have I served him* he never 
did me anything but good ; how then can I blaspheme 
my King and my Savior ? When threatened with wild 
beasts he said, Bring them on. He was chained to a 
stake and burned, and, as we think, went up in the 
flames to God. He died with praises on his lips.” 

If the host was unmoved by this story of Christian 
heroism, there was at least one of the company moved 
'by it, Julia Ashton listened with pale face, remember- 
ing that she had often spoken lightly and irreverently 
of Jesus. She was haunted with a fear that she had 
been guilty of blasphemy. Her heart was thoroughly 
at unrest. 

“The fortitude of Christians in cruel torture and 
death led Justin Martyr, a heathen philosopher, to ex- 
amine the teachings of Christianity. This examination 
was the cause of his accepting its Savior and becoming 
an earnest advocate of its truths. He wrote with abil- 
ity in defence of this religion, and his writings had much 
weight with li ter ary people.” 

“I remember all that stuff,” said the host with a 
scowl upon his face. “I have read Justin’s two de- 
fences of Christianity, addressed to Marcus Antoninus. 
They are plausible, and were doubtless the best show 


148 * 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


of reason that could be made for his superstition. By 
superstition I mean no reproach upon you, gentlemen, 
you are honest, no doubt, but, like Justin and the rest, 
you beg the question and assume the realit}^ of miracles. 
Justin’s idea of softening the emperor’s mind was a 
clever one; for Antoninus plumed himself on being a 
philosopher and Justin wrote from a philosopher’s stand- 
point. But, as you know, his philosophic garb was at 
last no protection to his person.” 

“Still you must confess, sir,” said Dr. Prescott, 
“that his fortitude in torture and death attested his 
sincerity. His imprisonment was for the crime of be- 
ing a Christian, the greatest crime, in the eyes of this 
emperor, of which any one could be guilty . What could 
be more heroic than his fortitude, when he and his six 
fellow-prisoners, before the prsefect, were exhorted to 
recant, worship the gods and be forgiven, and refused to 
do so, when the prsefect said to them, Those who refuse 
to sacrifice to the gods, and to obey imperial edicts, shall 
first be scourged and then beheaded ? Surely something 
divine must have sustained them when, with recanta- 
tion and life, or persistence and death, placed before 
them, they (Justin and his six friends) joyfully chose 
imprisonment, scourging and death rather than to ac- 
knowledge Roman idols and live.” 

“ Blind fanaticism ! sir. Bigoted clinging to super- 
stition ! ” sneered the host. 

“ Please pardon me then,” said Dr. Prescott, “for 
mentioning two other men, both eminent in scholar- 
ship, one confessedly standing at the ver} r head of the 
list among literary men of his day, who certainly must 
have been able to detect any sophistry or defects in 
the proofs of the miracles . I refer to Irenaeus and Origen . 

“The religious heroism of Irenaeus has already been 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


149 


mentioned. I beg now merely to ask you for a moment 
to consider in connexion with that his scholarship. 
He has a well defined and reputable position in the lit- 
erature of his times. That cannot be questioned.” 

“Yes, I cheerfully concede the literary standing of 
Irenreus,” said the host, “and have always been sur- 
prised that a man with such an evenly balanced mind 
could so easily have been swayed with the supersti- 
tions of Christianity.” 

“Conceding his literary status, then, I beg you, sir, 
remember that while pastor at Lyons, France, almost 
all of his literary works were to expose the subtle here- 
sies that were creeping in among the teachings of the 
Bible. His mental powers were employed exclusively 
in the defense of Christianity and its supernatural ori- 
gin and power. Under the influence of his heroic exam- 
ple and zealous teaching of truth, when torture and 
persecution destroyed almost every Christian in Lyons, 
causing the very streets to run with Christian blood, 
there was steadfastness unto death, almost without 
exception. 

“Later in history the peerless Origen arose among 
the Christians, not only the most learned of the Chris- 
tians, but a man of acknowledged attainments among 
all classes. In early life his attainments served a useful 
purpose, as he aided in the support of his father’s family 
by teaching Greek. He early became an enthusiastic 
Christian, and in the fervor of yonth courted persecu- 
tion, declaring his willingness to die for his faith. While 
he was not a reliable expounder of the Scriptures on 
account of his fondness for speculating, yet there was 
never any doubt of his scholarship nor of his sincere 
devotion to Christianity. He became a leading figure as 
a writer and teacher. This made him a shining mark for 


150 FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 

the attacks of the enemies of Christianity during the 
Decian persecution. With his remarkable learning he 
certainly could and would have been able to detect any 
defects in the claims of Christianity to be a divine re- 
ligion. In advanced age, when the enthusiasm of 
youth had passed, and he had settled down upon a 
steadfast conviction of the truth of Christianity, his 
enemies apprehended him. He refused to retreat an 
inch from his devotion to Christ, and his persecutors 
attempted to overcome the infirmities of his age by ex- 
quisite and gradually increasing torture. Some power 
sustained him in these sufferings, which has not been 
present in the same circumstances with unchristian suf- 
ferers. He honestly believed that it was a divine help 
promised and given in Christianity.” 

“It may have been a blind fanaticism, sir,” said the 
host. 

“Yes, sir, it may have been a blind fanaticism, but 
it certain^ served a very real and urgent need. If you 
do not object, sir, I wish to mention a case in which 
this same mysterious influence transformed timid wom- 
en into peerless heroines. During one of these storms 
of persecutions there was one distinguished woman 
who suffered and who is a monument of the sustaining- 
power of this religion in the extreme need of humanity. 
Perpetua, a lady of high rank of Carthage, lived near 
the beginning of the third century, during the reign of 
the emperor Severus. She was married and had an in- 
fant son. She was as you know, sir, from this book of 
martyrology , 1 the favorite child of a pagan father. 
Her father importuned her to turn from her Christian 
superstition, and to him her constancy seemed to be 
blind fanaticism. She modestly encountered the terrors 

1 “Moses and the Prophets,” p. 890. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


151 


of a crowded court in which certain conviction awaited 
her. She was publicly whipped and then thrust into a 
foul prison. The tenderest feelings of filial and mater- 
nal love were appealed to by her father and friends to 
induce her to recant, but she remained true to her pro- 
fession of faith in Jesus. ‘God’s will be done,’ she 
calmly replied to these entreaties. Nor was she less 
firm in the final scene, when, in a crowded amphi- 
theatre, she was thrown to a mad bull. By his at- 
tack she was stunned, and the fatal stroke was left 
to an unskillful gladiator, whose trembling hand she 
herself, with a martyr’s courage, guided to her throat. 
With her also suffered Felicitas, another noble Chris- 
tian woman. Both of these were in the freshness and 
beauty of young womanhood, with every inducement 
to cling to life. 

“These, and multitudes more that might be men- 
tioned, who were the victims of imperial hatred to 
Christianity, suffered during the ten persecutions, be- 
ginningwith Nero in the A^ear 65 or 70, and continuing, 
with intervals, until the early years of the fourth cen- 
tury. It is said that during the last, or Diocletian, 
persecution seventeen thousand Christians were slain 
in one month’s time, and that during all these persecu- 
tions, in the province of Egypt alone, no less than one 
hundred and forty thousand died by the violence of 
their tormentors ; besides seven hundred thousand who 
died from the fatigues of banishment, or the public 
works to which they were condemned. 1 ” 

“Which simply implies, .sir,” said the host, “if your 
figures are correct, that there were eight hundred 
thousand fools who were blind fanatics in their 
devotion to the Christian superstition. There were 

1 Relig. Encye., p. 925. 


152 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


as many fools in the world, then as there are today.” 

The sun was sinking low in the west, and further 
discussion seemed to be productive of evil rather than 
good, with one who had so little sympathy with Chris- 
tian sentiment. In behalf of his friends, Dr. Prescott 
returned cordial thanks to his distinguished host for 
his kindness and hospitaliy, and they bade him adieu, 
each one cherishing pleasant memories of the historic 
scenes they had been permitted to visit. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


153 


CHAPTER XIV. 

SHIFTING SCENES. 

“All that glitters is not gold.” — Old Proverb. 

“If there is any thing I do detest it is a hypocrite. 
Just look at that sanctimonious old scamp. He has 
been around to see priest McLemore to confess his sins 
and get absolution for them, paying a snug fee for 
the same. Tonight he will be greasing the teeth of his 
customer’s horses to keep them from eating the feed 
which he will place before them, and in the morning he 
will make a great display to the owners of the horses 
of his bountiful attention to their wants, for he will 
point out the fact that they have had more food than 
they could eat. This, and a thousand more acts of the 
most contemptible meanness, he will confess when the 
priest comes again, and will pay into the itching palm 
of old McLemore, many shining dollars who in turn 
will remit his sins for him.” 

“Rather severe judgement, Clifford, on a poor sin- 
ner,” returned Will Mortimer. The subject of the con- 
versation was a prosperous Catholic Stable keeper, 
whose reputation for honor was extremely unsavory. 

“By the waj^, Will, did you know that priest Me 
Lemore brought the bishop with him this time, and 
they have plenty of money at command and are pre- 


154 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


pared to buy Dr. Prescott’s fine fifty thousand dollar 
church if that mortgage for twelve thousand is not 
satisfied at once. They have scented a bargain from 
afar and are here to get a costly and valuable property * 
for a mere song, as there are threats of closing out the 
mortgage. So you see, you religious folks would do 
well to wake up just now, or you may get your selves 
locked out of your church in short order.” 

“You don’t tell me so, Clifford ! I wonder if the 
doctor knows of this. Are you sure you are correct?” 

“I am quite sure of it, unless my information is 
badly mixed, and I think I have it straight. A wide- 
awake lawyer like Will Mortimer, himself a member of 
the church in question, surety ought to be up in such 
important legal possibilities as this.” 

“Thank } r ou, Clifford. The said Will Mortimer will 
at once thoroughly inform himself on this question at 
least. Let us go at once to Dr. Prescott’s study,” said 
Will. 

A few minute’s walk brought them to the pastor’s 
study where they received the information that the 
doctor had just gone to Judge Norman’s office. They 
hurried on to the office, and had proceeded only a few 
squares when they met priest McLemore and the bish- 
op pursuing a leisure gait and evidently in a fine 
humor. , 

An unusually large number of the members of the 
church are present at the weekly meeting for prayer in 
the elegant lecture room of Dr. Prescott’s church. The 
pastor is pouring out his heart in prayer to God for 
his presence and aid in the present crisis. His face is 
eloquent with the emotion which sways his heart and 
the whole assembly is brought as it were, to the very 
gates of heaven. 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


155 


“More things are wrought by prayer 
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice 
Rise like a fountain for me night and day. 

For what are men better than sheep or goats 
That nourish a blind life within the brain, 

If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer 
Roth for themselves and those who call them friend? 

For so the whole round world is every way 
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.” 

Several earnest prayers had ascended from this 
room of prayer, when Dr. Prescott said : 

“Beloved, we have entreated our God to help us in 
this our time of need. It is entirely in- order for us to 
reveal to him how much we are willing to do in order 
to help ourselves. A fair representation of our mem- 
bership are present tonight. Let us now have volunta- 
ry offerings to the Lord.” 

Judge Norman, now thoroughly aroused, spoke 
first : 

“My dear sir, you all know that I am not a rich 
man, but in this critical crisis I’ll give one thousand 
dollars.” 

Mr. Ashton gave a thousand. Two others gave a 
thousand. Several gave five hundred and smaller 
amounts, until ten thousand had been received. A 
committee of good business men guaranteed the rais- 
ing of the remaining two thousand. The old church 
rang with the strains of 

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” 

and the meeting was closed with a general hand- 
shaking. * * * 

It is the next day following the prayer service The 
scene is Dr. Prescott’s study. Judge Norman has call- 
ed to say that the committee, during the first half of 
the day have secured the remaining two thousand, and 
that the mortgage has been surrendered upon the re- 
ceipt of twelve thousand dollars in bankable paper, 


156 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


payable in thirty days. The cancelled mortgage is 
placed in the pastor’s hand, and tears of joy stand in 
his eyes. 

“Just to think, my dear sir, that such imps of dark- 
ness as that smooth-faced scamp walking down that 
pavement and his boss were ready to pounce down up- 
on oilr church,” said the Judge, pointing through a 
window at the priest who happened to pass at that 
moment. 

“I am so glad, Judge, to receive this bit of paper 
that I can smile at the intrigues of Rome.” 

“But I cannot, my dear sir. It makes my blood 
boil when I think these smooth faced demons would cut 
our throats as quick as they would a rabbit’s, if they 
dared to. They would like to do us like those old Ro- 
man emperors did, of whom you told our friend recent- 


ly.” 


“But a^ou know, Judge, that persecution was pow- 
erless to arrest the progress of God’s truth. Indeed the 
blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. The 
seed germinated so rapidly that in the fourth century 
Christianity ascended the throne of the Caesars’ and 
became the established religion of the Roman empire.” 

“A just recognition of the divine origin of our re- 
ligion, my dear sir!” exclaimed the Judge. “Constan- 
tine was a great and wise man, sir. He had the good 
sense to know a good thing when he saw it. In taking 
up religion and aiding it he did a good thing for his 
government and a good thing for religion. He gave 
the Chrirtians a release from this terrible foolishnees of 
being burnt and torn to pieces, and the privilege of 
proclaiming their blessed doctrines.” 

“But, Judge, that very union of religion and gov- 
ernment contained in it the germ of persecution. It 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


157 


was the principle upon which Christians had been tor- 
tured and killed. If government assumes the right to 
legalize and support any one form of religious faith, it 
thereby assumes the right to outlaw every other relig- 
ion and to punish its professors with pains and penal- 
ties. I know that the majority of Christians agreed to 
this union, but it was very unwise and a very wrong 
thing for them to do. There were a faithful few who 
protested against this union and continued to protest 
against it. For their persistent refusal to consent to it 
they were bitterly persecuted by the established re- 
ligionists. From the very first the establishment en- 
gaged in this bloody work of destroying those who 
remained faithful. This is the third form of persecution. 
Its history is dark and terrible, surpassing in cruelty 
the atrocities of heathen kings.' The established church 
grew more and more corrupt, and during the ages, 
until the dawn of religious toleration, and the upris- 
ing of the spirit of freedom, in modern times, has been 
drunk with the blood of God’s saints. 1 ” 

* “You astonish me very much, my dear sir,” said 
the Judge. “Do you mean to say that, after she heath- 
en quit killing the Christians, they themselves began 
this tom - foolery of killing each other ?” 

“Such was assuredly true, Judge. You cannot have 
failed to observe this fact in your reading of history.” 

“I must confess, my dear sir, that I have not given 
much time to church history.” 

“The most of what is called church history, Judge, 
is not the history of Christian churches, but is the his- 
tory of a huge and usurping hierarchy . 2 It would be 
impossible to secure a complete record of all who have 
perished for their faith at the hands of churchly hate, 

1 Rev. 17 : 0. ‘2 “The Baptists and Itelig. Liberty” by C. C. Bitting, p. 6. 


158 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


from the days of Constantine even into the nineteenth 
century. A dark and bloody record lies behind Rome 
and her descendants, who branded as heretics all who 
refused to consent to their unholy alliance with govern- 
ment and to conform to the ceremonies which were 
brought in to mar the simplicity of worship. These 
harrowing details are gathered from public records and 
the proceedings of eclesiastical courts. Established 
Christianity was growing more and more corrupt dur- 
ing the long line of intrigues and bloody deeds which 
mark the relations of French and English kings with 
the Pope of Rome, who was the churchly despot of the 
middle ages. But the most horrible development of 
this ghastly record was the Inquisition, the horrors of 
which are the darkest that stain the page of history.” 

“A thousand pities, my dear sir, that it should ever 
be necessary to look upon these terrible scenes of perse- 
cution. It would be well, it seems to me, if the curtain 
of oblivion could be drawn over these horrors of the 
past.” 

“Then, Judge, two very profitable lessons would 
be lost; first, the corrupting influence to religion of 
leaning upon civil power, and, second, the power of 
pure faith in Christ to sustain the soul in such trying 
scenes.” 

“In that case, my dear sir, it is a great advantage 
to know the very worst of these horrid records.” 

“The infamously wicked religious court called the 
Inquisition, had its origin in the twelfth century, after 
the faithful few had been persecuted many years by the 
wicked majority. It deals with heresy, and people 
stood in such fear of it that parents would deliver up 
their children, husbands their wives, and masters their 
servants to its officers without daring to hesitate. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


159 


Prisoners were kept a long time until they turned their 
own accusers, and declared the cause of their imprison- 
ment. When any were imprisoned their friends went 
into mourning and spoke of them as dead, not daring 
to solicit their pardon lest the3 r should be arrested as 
accomplices. When there was no shadow of proof of 
heresy against a prisoner he was discharged, after 
suffering the most cruel torture, a terrible imprison- 
ment and the loss of almost his entire property. Sen- 
tence against a prisoner was pronounced publicly and 
with extraordinary solemnity. In Portugal a theatre 
was erected capable of holding three thousand people, 
in which was placed a rich altar with raised seats on 
either side, in the form of an amphitheatre, over 
against which was a high chair where the prisoners 
were placed one by one to hear their doom from one of 
the inquisitors. 

“The prisoners,’’ continued Dr. Prescott, “knew 
what they were to suffer by the clothes they wore that 
day. Those who were brought out in their own clothes 
were discharged on pa} r ing a fine. Those who wore a 
santo benito , or straight yellow coat without sleeves, 
charged with St. Andrew’s cross, were to have their 
lives but forfeit all their property. Those who had the 
resemblance of flames made of red serge sewed upon 
their santo benito , without any cross, were pardoned, 
but threatened to be burnt if they ever relapsed. Those 
who, besides the flames, had on their santo benito , 
their own picture surrounded with devils were condemn- 
ed to die in the flames. 1 ” 

“That was horrible, n^ dear sir. But are you sure 
that these persons were killed solely for their simple 
faith in Jesus and for refusal to accept the Catholic 

1 Rolig. Encye. pp 660, (561. 


160 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


faith?” asked the Judge. “It strikes me that there 
must have been some supposed crime for which at least 
in part they were put to death.” 

“They were guilty of no crime, Judge, save refusal 
to be Catholics. Reinerius Saccho, an inquisitor, says 
of them, that they affirmed that they alone were the 
church of Christ, that they were the successors of the 
Apostles and had the keys of binding and loosing, that 
the church of Rome is the adulterous Babylon 1 and 
that all who obey her are condemned eternally. They 
deny that any true miracles are wrought in the church, 
because none of themselves ever worked any, and that 
any of the ordinances of the church which have been 
introduced since Christ’s ascension ought to be observ- 
ed. The feasts, fasts, orders, blessings, officers of the 
church, and the like, they reject. They charge priests 
with covetousness and spunging the people in exacting 
fees for consecrating church yards, and other such 
things. They deny all baptism except their own, and 
reject the baptism of infants. They reject confirmation 
and say that bishops, clergy and other religious orders 
are no better than the scribes and Pharisees. They do 
not believe the body and blood of Christ to be the true 
sacrament, but only blessed bread, which, by a figure 
only, is called the body and blood of Christ, even as it 
is said, And that rock was Christ . 2 

“Such, Judge, were the persons who were killed by 
Rome as heretics, as one of Rome’s representatives has 
described them.” 

“You greatly astonish me, my dear sir. Why, sir, 
they were guilty of nothing but refusing to bow the 
knee to Baal.” 

“To kill men,” continued Dr. Prescott, “for being 

1 Rev. 17 : 5 and following verses. 2 1 Cor. 10 : 4. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


161 


ot a different opinion is as absurd as to kill for having 
a different countenance. If we honor God, keep sacred 
the pure teachings of Christ, fully trust the promises 
of the Bible, and obey all the laws of the state in 
which we live, we have a right to protection instead of 
persecution, and a right to serve God according to our 
views of the requirements of the gospel.” 

“Such are my sentiments, my dear sir. I see now 
that wherever government and religion are united this 
right is ignored, and those who contend for this right 
are the victims of this tom -foolery of killing people 
for their religion.” 

“The records of the Inquisition, Judge, are too 
horrible to be dwelt upon at length, but permit me to 
read you this extract that you may see how this huge 
engine of Satan, in the name of religion, tortured the 
saints of God. 

“M. De Legal, lieutenant-general of the Duke of 
Orleans, threw open the doors of the Inquisition prison 
in the city of Arragon, France. After overcoming all 
the obstacles placed in his way by the Catholics, and 
defying the three inquisitorial judges themselves, he 
and his troops released four hundred prisoners, ‘Among 
whom were sixty beautiful young women, who appear- 
ed to forma seraglio for the three principal inquisitors.’ 
‘One of the ladies thus happily delivered from captivi- 
ty, was afterward married to the French officer who 
opened the door of her dungeon, and released her from 
confinement.’ In the relation of her experience in pris- 
on, she say^s that Mary, a female servant of the in- 
quisitors, came to her early on the morning after her 
imprisonment and said, ‘that as nobody was stirring, 
if I would promise her secresy, she would show me the 
dry pan and gradual fire. So taking me down stairs, 


162 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


she brought me to a large room, with a thiek iron door 
which she opened. Within it was an oven, with fire in 
it at the time, and a large brass pan upon it, with a 
cover of the same, and a lock to it. In the next room 
there was a great wheel, covered on both sides with 
thick boards. Opening a little window in the centre, 
Mary desired me to look in with a candle. There I saw 
all the circumference of the wheel set with sharp razors, 
which made me shudder. 

“She then took me to a pit, which was full of 
venomous animals. On my expressing great horror at 
the sight, she said, ‘Now, my good mistress, I’ll tell 
you the use of these things. The dry pan is for heretics, 
and those who oppose the holy father’s will and pleas- 
ure. They are put alive in the pan, being first stripped 
naked ; and the cover being locked down, the execution- 
er begins to put a small fire into the oven, and by 
degrees he augments it, till the body is reduced to ash- 
es. The wheel is designed for those who speak against 
the pope, or the holy fathers of the inquisition ; for they 
are put into the machine through the little door, which 
is locked after them, and then the wheel is turned swift- 
ly, till they are all cut to pieces. The pit is for those 
who contemn the images, and refuse to give proper 
respect to ecclesiastical persons ; for they are thrown 
into the pit and so become the food of poisonous 
animals. ’ 

“We went back again to my chamber, and Mary 
said, that another day she would show me the tor- 
ments designed for other transgressors; but I was in 
such a fright at what I had seen, that I begged to be 
terrified with no more such sights. She soon after left 
me, but not without enjoining my strict obedience to 
Don Francisco (one of the inquisitors) ; for if you do 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


163 


not comply with his will, said she, the dry pan and 
gradual fire will be your fate. 1 ’ 

“Arnold, of Brescia, was a prominent reformer of 
the eleventh century, a disciple of the noted Abelard. 
He was fearless in his denunciations of the corruptions 
of the Romish church, and, by his eloquence, he arous- 
ed a spirit of reform. He was seized by the Catholics 
and condemned and crucified in the year 1155. 

“John Wycliffe was a man of eminent ability and 
devotion. In the midst of the darkness and supersti- 
tion of his time he shone with a peculiar mental and 
spiritual brilliancy. His great learning and devout and 
sweet spirit secured for him many honors. He was 
greatly loved by the people, and translated for them 
the Bible into English. It had been for the people a 
sealed book by Rome’s teachers. For translation of the 
Bible and for many works he wrote exposing church 
corruptions, he was condemned to death, and the 
copies of his translation publicly burned. Providential 
circumstances prevented the execution of his sentence, 
but Romish hate dug up his bones after his death and 
burned them. 

“John Huss, Jerome, of Prague, and many others, 
who, though not reaching the full truth, made near ap- 
proaches to it, were tortured by Rome and murdered 
for their religious convictions. There is a long and 
bloody record of the sufferings of God’s people for 
truth running through the centuries that is appalling 
and heart - sickening, the work of so-called Christians. 
‘All that glitters is not gold.”’ * * * 

Another scene. It is afternoon in Ashton Hall. 
Julia and her uncle are alone in the library. 

“I am almost forced, uncle, to the conclusion that 

1 Fox’s B jok of Martyrs, pp, 450, 451. 


164 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


religion is a deception and a myth, having nothing in 
it. For, if it was so good for those suffering wretches 
mentioned the other day by Dr. Prescott, why can’t I 
have a share in its power ? I fear those were honest 
enthusiasts, as our distinguished friend said, and that 
religion is a delusion.” 

“My dear, in saying that you reproach the only 
support upon which your old uncle rests in his old age. 
I can truly say, I know that my Redeemer liveth , 1 and 
I know whom I have believed, and am fully persuaded 
that he is able to keep that which I have committed to 
him against that day. 2 ” 

“Yes, uncle, your life is a monument to the power 
of your religion and is one of the barriers that keep me 
back from wild skepticism. But some things are so 
mysterious. For instance, why did God permit his 
people in all these ages to be so cruelly tortured and 
killed ? If he loved them so well as to give his Son to 
die 3 for them, why has he not given them exemption 
from these sufferings ? If he cares for the wants of all 
his creatures, not allowing, as we are told, the falling 
of a sparrow to escape his notice , 4 why has he permit- 
ted this wholesale slaughter of his people, who are as 
dear to him as the apple of his eye ? 5 ” 

“Many others would like to understand that, my 
dear,” said Mr. Ashton. “God certainly had the power 
to prevent this, for the Bible teaches us that he is all- 
powerful. Why has he not done so ? This, my dear, is 
indeed a hard question. For, besides the great number 
of Christians who were murdered by Jewish and pagan 
persecutors, it is estimated by careful and reliable his- 
torians that Roman Catholics have slaughtered fifty 
millions of human beings, the majority of whom were 

1 Job 19 : 25. 2 2 Tim.l : 12. 8 Rom. 8 : 32. 1 Matt. 10 : 29. 5 Zecli. 2:8. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS*. 


165 


pious Christians, or an average of forty thousand 
yearly for every year since Constantine established 
Christianity as a government religion. Why God has 
allowed this wholesale destruction of his children is 
not so clear. It is certain that he is infinitely good, 
and that he had some wise purpose to accomplish by 
the blood of his people. Their heroism was no doubt 
designed to be a part of the divine credentials of Chris- 
tianity, to show to every age the power of living faith 
in Christ to sustain in the hour of extreme bodily suf- 
fering. Comparatively few recanted in these persecu- 
tions and those who did went out because they were not 
of God’s people . 1 Almost without exception they met 
death with fortitude, showing that they were sustain- 
ed by divine power in their sufferings. While the flames 
were licking up their breath they were like their Mas- 
ter, gentle and forgiving towards their enemies and 
murderers. The Captain of their salvation was made 
perfect through sufferings , 2 so these tortures were to 
the Christians refining fires to purify them and exhibit 
the beauty of their characters to the world. They 
were enabled to glory in tribulation, knowing that 
tribulation worked patience, and patience experience, 
and experience hope and hope makes not ashamed, be- 
cause the love of God was shed abroad in their hearts 
by the Holy Spirit which was given rhem . 3 They could 
pray for attainment to the fellowship of Christ’s suffer- 
ings , 4 and could say the sufferings of the present time 
are not worthy to be compared with the future glory 
to be revealed in them, for having suffered with Christ 
thev shall also be glorified with him . 5 Though their 
body perished the spiritual nature was strengthened 
daily and their light afflictions, lasting only a few 

1 1 John 2 : 19. 2 Hob. 2 : 10. 3 Rom. 5 : 3, 4, 5. 4 Phil. 3 : 10. 5 Rom. 8 17 , 18. 


166 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


moments, worked out for them a superabounding 
weight of eternal glor} r , while they looked not at visi- 
ble things but at the unseen things of God . 1 It may be 
that God permitted his children to suffer to show the 
beaut} r of Christian character and the power of religion 
to sustain in fiery trials.” 

As the beams of the sinking sun, still fiercely hot 
on this summer evening, were flinging their last golden 
tints over the city, Julia strolled out aimlessly amidst 
the shrubbery in the most secluded portion of the flow- 
er garden, revolving in her mind the sufferings of Chris- 
tians of which she had heard so much, and which 
seemed to show their piety, either as something very 
real, or as a strange and powerful delusion. In her 
morbid condition religion never seemed to her so desir- 
able as at this moment. Whatever it might be, she 
desired it with her whole heart. 

“If I could only experience that state of mind or 
heart that helped so many to face torture and death, 
how glad I would be. Is it possible for all — every one 
— to have this faith if they will only accept it ? 
Perhaps it is not intended that all should have it. I 
seem now so far — so very far — away from all that is 
good. Oh, God ! have mercy upon me one of the most 
miserable of thy creatures ! But it is of no use for me 
to try any longer. I cannot have the faith of my saint- 
ed mother and my uncle. This life is my only chance 
for happiness, and I must make the most of it.” 

She clenched her fair hands and resolutely made up 
her mind to gather the greatest possible pleasure from 
the present life, despairing of all happiness in the life to 
come. 

While in this state of mind Jane came out and 

1 2 Cor. 4 : 16, 17, 18. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


167 


handed her a dainty little envelope, which had 
just been received from a messenger. It was an 
invitation to attend a social gathering at the residence 
of Judge Norman, which his fashionable wife had ar- 
ranged in honor of her niece, Laura Chatfield, who is 
visiting her aunt. 

“Yes, I’ll go and try to get this religious business 
out of my mind. Since I cannot be religious I will be 
gay and have a good time,’’ she mused as she entered 
the house. In this hour of her greatest weakness the 
tempter came and sought to lead her farther astray 
than ever, and here was a suitable occasion at hand. 

With these resolutions to yield to the siren voice of 
pleasure in her heart she encountered Will upon the 
steps of Ashton Hall. She attempted to pass him and 
enter the house but he prevented her, saying : 

“Dear Julia, I am here for just a moment to hand 
you this package from Miss Laura. Remember I am 
praying for you,’’ and he was gone. 

“The impertinence! Dear Julia! Indeed! This 
young sprout must be broughi to his senses.’’ 

Nevertheless, prayers were going up from devout 
hearts which were so many cords binding her to a bet- 
ter life. 

•‘He is a freeman whom the truth makes free, 

And all are slaves beside,” 


168 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER XV. 

SORELY TRIED. 

“Natufte, attend! join every living soul 
Beneath the spacious temple of the sky, 

In adoration join; and, ardent raise 
One general song! To Him, ye vocal gales, 

Breathe soft; whose Spirit in your freshness breathes: 
Oh, talk of Him in solitary glooms! 

Where o’er the rock, the scarcely waving pine 
Fills the brown shade with religious awe.” 

— Thomson. 

“Why should I ‘in adoration join’ in ‘one general 
song’ to him who has refused to hear my prayer, or 
give rest to my soul, when I have cried to him for 
help?” mused Julia, as ‘her eyes fell upon these lines 
from Thomson’s “Seasons,” while completing her toilet 
one week later for the fashionable soiree at Judge Nor- 
man’s. Although she had settled the matter of her 
soul’s welfare in her own mind, yet somehow it would 
not stay settled. The question, ‘Is it well with thy 
soul?’ would often intrude itself in her thoughts. 

This evening she was radiant and lovely, though 
bearing traces of serious thought upon her fair face. 
As she entered the brilliant parlors of Judge Norman, 
leaning upon the arm of Will Mortimer, there were 
many admiring glances at her grace and beauty. She 
was a general favorite in the mountain city and receiv- 
ed much attention from both young men and maidens, 


FROM ERROR’S CHAIN?. 


169 


and by her brilliant conversation was constantly the 
centre of a circle of charmed friends. In some mysteri- 
ous manner her friends had learned of her late adven- 
ture on the bank of the Seneca and would have made a 
heroine of her had she not peremptorily declined to 
have the affair mentioned in her presence. She had 
sought an opportunity of enjoining Will, who still 
limped slightly, to say to every one who mentioned it 
that her wish was to have no reference made in her 
presence to her part in it. 

Mrs. Norman was given somewhat to display, but 
entertained her guests in elegant style, using her charm- 
ing powers in seeking to promote the pleasure of each 
of her guests. 

Under the protest of the Judge and Will Mortimer 
she determined to permit all who were so inclined to 
have dancing in one of the elegant parlors and thither 
all of the revellers repaired. Soon light airy music was 
floating through the mansion and the devotees of 
Terpsichore were “tripping the light fantastic toe.’’ 

In this revelry Julia persistently refused for a time 
to participate, knowing that it would grieve her uncle ; 
although she was urged to do so by her light hearted 
friend, Laura, and by several young gentlemen of her 
acquaintance. 

After the lapse of several swift -footed hours the 
guests were invited to the dining hall to partake of a 
magnificent banquet. Everything was costly and 
elegant, beautiful to the eye and tempting to the pal- 
ate. Upon the festal board of Mrs. Norman, also under 
the protest of the Judge and Will, was the sparkling 
wine and champaign. This Julia declined until pressed 
by her escort to drink to his health, and urged by 
Laura who was near her. 


170 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“I may as well sip this ruby wine,” thought she, “I 
cannot be religious, and so the way to make the most 
of life is to ‘eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,’ and 
are no more,” and she raised the glass to her lips and 
drained it of its contents. As she replaced it upon the 
table her eyes met the sad reproachful eyes of Will. 
But, alas, she was growing reckless, for Shakespeare 
has well declared of the ‘‘spirit of wine” that it may 
appropriately be called devil. 

After the guests had returned to the parlors Will 
siezed an opportunity of saying: “Miss Julia, I was 
much grieved because you took the wine, but rejoice 
that you declined to dance. Please do not dance.” 

“Mr. Mortimer,” she replied, “pray tell me how 
you came to be the dictator as to my conduct. Your 
surveillance, sir, is impertinent,” and they wereseparat- 
ed in the gay throng. * 

Again “music arose with its voluptuous swell. Soft 
eyes looked love to eyes which spoke again : and all 
went merry as the marriage bell.” The devotees of 
pleasure again flitted through all the gay mazes of the 
dance. 

Laura, accompanied by two young gentlemen, 
came to Julia and importuned her to take part in the 
dance. 

“Please excuse me,” she pleaded. “It will grieA^e 
my uncle, and I would not willingly do that. He is so 
good and kind to me, and so heartily disappoves of 
dancing that I would rather not dance.” 

“But, Julia dear, we need you to complete a set. 
Please do come, and don’t let your uncle’s old fogy no- 
tions prevent you from having a good time and so mar 
our pleasure. I suppose he is religious and thinks 
dancing would interfere with our soul’s salvation. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


171 


This religious business is all a fraud and superstition 
any how. It is a relic of the dark ages, and it is 
strange that sensible people still hold on to it in this 
age of progress and reason. It did very well for design- 
ing priests to scare women and children and weak 
minded men with, but the world ought to be beyond 
such nonsense now. Why even Jesus of Nazareth was 
only a deluded and fanatical man. A good sort of a 
man, to be sure, but only a man. This fact has been 
known from the first. The question of his being a 'mere 
man was seriously discussed among his own followers 
only a few hundred years after he lived, a large number 
of them holding that he was only a man. Of course, 
he was only a man and his religion is a right ingenious 
imposture. But come on and enjoy the dance with us. 
I did not mean to deliver a homily to you; it slipped 
out in spite of me.” 

“Do come, Miss Julia,” pleaded the young man 
who sought her hand in the dance. “Give me the honor 
of your hand in your first set tonight.” 

In sheer desperation, to flee from the seriousness of 
her own heart, she yielded and was soon whirling in 
the mazes of the dance, plunging recklessly into the 
snares laid for her by the enemy of souls. Her grace 
and beauty caused, her hand to be eagerly sought in the 
revelry of the dance. As Will saw her whirled through 
the intricacies of the dance with the arm of another' en- 
circling her waist, he became deeply conscious of the 
extent to which he had given her his heart, and, despite 
himself, a dark frown rested on his face. He knew then 
only too well how completely she possessed his affec- 
tions. He saw everywhere written as in letters of fire 
his love for Julia Ashton. 

When the “wee sma’ hours” of the morning had 


172 


PROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


lengthened themselves out far towards dawn he sadly 
accompanied her to the quiet of Ashton Hall and hasti- 
ly returned to his room to pour out his soul in prayer 
that his idol might be saved from the evil which now 
threatened to engulf her soul. 

It was late in the day when Julia awoke with 
throbbing temples and a leaden weight in her heart. 
As she remembered the dissipation of the previous 
evening she was grieved for the pain it would cause her 
uncle who lavished upon her such a wealth of affection. 
But as for herself she was well nigh in the blackness of 
despair and seemed farther away from rest and peace 
than ever before, and was strengthened in her resolu- 
tion to get the most out of the present life. 

Those words of her gay friend, Laura Chatfield, 
too, were constantly ringing in her ears; “Jesus of 
Nazareth was only a deluded and fanatical man.” 

“Possibly, after all, Laura may be right, and the 
Christian religion may be nothing more than a tena- 
cious superstition that has come down through the 
ages and still holds its sway over human credulity. 
Jesus of Nazareth was indeed a lovable and beneficent 
character, but may have been a misguided enthusiast.” 

So she thought. But there was one thing which 
held her back from a full acceptance of this conclusion. 
That was the pure and holy life of her uncle, to whom 
religion was such a real power, and the lives of a few 
other earnest Christians of her acquaintance. These 
seemed ‘holding her back from the blackness of despair. 
They were now the only breakwater between herself 
and the angry billows of skepticism. 

Her uncle’s greeting was affectionate and tender as 
was his custom, and no reference was made to the 
night’s dissipation save an inquiry as to how she 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


173 


enjoyed the soiree. He was ever thus kind and consid- 
erate of the feelings of his niece, and knew that she 
was passing through a season of peculiar trial. 

A few days later, on a sultry August afternoon, as 
Judge and Mrs. Norman, and Laura, were calling at 
Ashton Hall, Dr. Prescott dropped in. In the course 
of conversation the doctor said : 

“By the way, Miss Julia, an ardent admirer of 
yours has just arrived on another visit to our cit} r and 
begs me to intercede on his behalf. He also says that 
if you still refuse to favor his suit he will openly declare 
war. I have now in my possession a package from 
him, which seems to be a lengthy document, and bears 
the inscription, ‘ A Declaration of War.' If you refuse 
to surrender peacably, then he says he will be compell- 
ed to carry on a war, and as he is a man unusually fa- 
vored of Providence he will carry on this war in a 
most unusual manner, by firing great numbers of mis- 
siles from his encampment ; that is, by earnest prayers 
to heaven, day and night, that your mind may be en- 
lightened, and your heart softened. But I beg pardon 
for speaking of this delicate affair in the presence of 
these friends. Shall I give you his name here in this 
company ?” 

“Certainly, doctor. I have an idea as to who it is, 
and as there is not the slightest danger of my surren- 
dering peaceably I am quite willing that my friends 
here should hear from you who my quixotic lover is,’’ 
said Julia, blushing from annoyance. 

“It is our good, but eccentric friend, Robinson . 
Comings. Your reply then is that there is no hope of a 
surrender?’’ asked Dr. Prescott, laughing, in which all 
the company joined at Julia’s expen.se. 

“Yes, sir, and please return the Declaration to him 


174 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


with my compliments, and tell him if he respects a 
lady’s wish he will not calk to see me any more, and 
that if he does call I cannot meet him.” 

“Poor old man. Although he is sometimes appar- 
ently a suitable subject for an insane asylum, yet he is 
such a pure and holy man, so devout, so harmless, so 
unwearying in good deeds, so much like our Lord and 
Savior in his beneficent life, that he commands univer- 
sal respect and his eccentricities are tolerated. His 
goodness of heart is his passport wherever he is 
known.” 

Laura’s theological sparring will be reserved for 
another chapter. 


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FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


175 


CHAPTER XVI. 

“WHAT DO YOU CHRISTIANS WORSHIP?” 

“As man he suffered and as Gwl he taught.” — WaMiBr. ! 

“Do you think, Dr. Prescott, there is any power in 
the superstition which you call the religion of Jeshs of 
Nazareth, to produce the goodness of heart of This 
cranky old man of whom you speak ?” asked Laura. 

“Do you think, Miss Laura, there is any power in 
the cooling draught to slake your thirst? Do you 
need any process of reasoning to convince you that 
although you were thirsty, your thirst is all gone when 
you have drunk the pure cold water ? You know your 
thirst is gone and you know what removed it. In like 
manner I know that my hunger and thirst of soul are 
gone and I know that riches of grace in Christ Jesus 
our Lord satisfied these deep needs.” 

“But, doctor, you seem, in your statement, to 
make feeling a test of the truth of your religion. Is 
that wise ? Is not every Mohammedan and Buddhist 
as happy in believing what he believes, or in perform- 
ing what his religion requires as you are in following 
the teachings of your Jesus of Nazareth ? How do you 
know that Jesus was anything more than a mere man? 
The history of his religion is a history of strife and con- 
troversy, and those who bore his name have filled the 
world with torrents of human blood. Besides, as early 


176 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


as the third century of our era there was a party that 
sprang up in the Christian church itself, led by Arius, 
of Lybia, who denied that Jesus was divine. As you 
know, he said that Jesus was only the first and highest 
of all finite beings, created by an act of God’s free will, 
and that he ought not to be ranked with the Father as 
you Christians say. His views spread rapidly among 
the followers of Jesus until they became more numer- 
ous and powerful than those who held that Jesus was 
God. If so many, who professed to love your Christ, 
in this early age fell into this notion that he was a 
mere man, or perhaps a superior man, as many now 
admit, how can you assure yourself that he is also 
God ? ” 

“Why, Laura, Laura; you surprise me! ’’ exclaimed 
the Judge. “I did not dream that } t ou were such a 
little skeptic. Of course Jesus was God, and Dr. Pres- 
cott will show you this very clearly, I am sure.” 

“Perhaps I am a skeptic, if your honor please, but 
papa has looked into this matter, and, while he accepts 
the Bible as true, he says there are difficulties in the 
way of accepting Jesus of Nazareth as God. I suppose 
these are the same things that troubled Arius and his 
followers.” 

“Permit me to ask, Miss Laura, if you accept the 
Bible as a revelation from God. In endeavoring to 
place myself and those who believe as I do, in a proper 
attitude, I must know just how far you agree with me. 
If you do not recognize the Bible as the inspired word 
of God, then I need not, with you, argue that Jesus 
Christ is God, but would be first compelled to give you 
my reasons for holding that the Bible is a revelation of 
God.” 

“I am willing to admit just now, for the sake of 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


177 


argument, that the Bible is God’s revelation, though 
of that I am sometimes exceedingly doubtful. Yes, say 
that it is from God. But all through its pages we are 
taught that there is but one God. In opposition to all 
the nations around, which had many gods, your Bible 
is clear and unmistakable that there is but one true 
God. The Lord our God is one Lord , 1 said Moses. In 
numerous places the oneness of God is asserted. If 
Jesus of Nazareth was God then we certainly have two 
gods and there may also be others. This is true, unless 
you sav with some of old, who were called heretics, 
that Jesus of Nazareth was only one manifestation of 
God and the Holy Spirit of whom you speak, still 
another manifestation of the same God. This, I be- 
lieve you utterly repudiate — you who style yourselves 
the orthodox. ” 

“Laura! Laura! my child, we are the orthodox. 
We are the orthodox,” exclaimed the Judge. 

“Yes, sir, Judge, }^ou claim to be. Strike! but hear 
me. It seems to me highly unreasonable to claim that 
God can be both one and three. It is contradictory. 
It is an impossibility. If the Bible is accepted, then its 
apparent teaching that Jesus is God must be under- 
stood in a modified sense, unless you hold to the differ- 
ent appearance idea. We cannot — our reason forbids 
us to — accept this three -and -yet -one idea of God. I 
am willing to admit that Jesus is said to be the very 
first and highest of all the creatures of God — so high 
and exalted in being and powers that he is spoken of as 
God and has the names and perfections of God ascribed 
to him. ” 

“Miss Laura,” said Dr. Prescott gravely, “you 
now admit much more than you did at first. But a 


1 Deut. 0 : 4. 


178 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


moment ago you claimed that the blessed One of whom 
we speak was a mere man. Now you are willing to 
accord to him a place far above men and angels.” 

“If you please, sir, I admitted that the Bible taught 
that.” 

“I am aware of that, Miss Laura, but we are now 
proceeding upon the admission that the Bible is the 
word of God. It requires at least all that you have 
admitted, and I think much more. I heartily accept 
the Scripture teaching of the unity of God. Yet there 
is taught some kind of a plurality concerning God, a 
kind too which is different from a plurality of manifes- 
tations. May there not be such a thing as truth con- 
cerning God being above our reason, and lying beyond 
its furthest stretch ? These eyes of ours serve us ad- 
mirably for all the practical purposes of life, but they 
are entirely useless for examining the structure of the 
heavenly bodies. Their power for this is greatly aug- 
mented by the telescope, but even with its aid, the eyes 
are of but little use in such examination. So there are 
many things beyond the reach of our reason. We 
affirm unity of God, we affirm also a trinity of persons 
in this one God, all equally sharing the divine perfec- 
tions. But we cannot understand how it is, for we 
have limited powers of mind. ” 

“A very convenient way of escape from a difficulty, 
Dr. Prescott. You religious folks are very confident in 
asserting your dogmas, but, when overtaken by a dif- 
ficulty remind yourselves of limited intellects. I wish 
to speak of some words from your Bible, but must say 
first that Arius was following out his reason when he 
declared that Jesus was the first-born of every Crea- 
ture and used by God as an instrument in creation, and 
so highly exalted that it was "proper to call him God. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


179 


Still he was a creature. He is called God in a modified 
smse. Here now are some Scriptures I have heard 
papa use: 

“The Lord possessed me [ Jesus] in the beginning 
of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from 
everlasting, from the beginning or ever the earth was. 
When there were no depths, I was brought forth ; when 
there were no fountains abounding with water. Be- 
fore the mountains were settled, before the hills was 1 
brought forth. 1 

“God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have 
crucified both Lord and Christ. 2 

“Being made so much better than the angels, as 
he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name 
than they. 3 

“Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as 
also Moses was faithful in all his house. 4 

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and 
in favor with God and man. 5 

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience 
by the things he suffered ; and being made perfect, he 
became the author of eternal salvation unto all them 
that obey him. 6 

“ There are some others besides these I have read, 
teaching that Jesus of Nazareth, though highly exalted, 
was created, and that there was a time when he did 
not exist. I have satisfied myself that this is the true 
state of the case.” 

dear young friend, I assure you that you have 
reached a very one-sided conclusion. Of this Arian 
controversy of the early ages of Christianity it should 
be remembered that it was after the union of religion 
and government, and the strength of the Arians de- 

1 Pro v. 8:22-25. 2Aots2:3«. 3 Heb. 1:4. 4 Heb. 3:2. 5 Luke 2:52. 0 Heb. 5:8-9. 


180 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


pended upon the attitude of the ruling emperor. II he 
favored the Arians they had large numbers, otherwise 
the other side were in the majority. The controversy 
was confined to the establishment and extended not to 
the faithful few who never bowed the knee to the Baal 
of imperial favor. Let it also be remembered that 
Christ, while truly God was also truly a man. Some 
of the words you have read refer to his human nature. 
They speak of him as we would speak of any other 
man. Others clearly declare that he was divine, and in 
terms which cannot be mistaken. The word^, ‘made,’ 
‘appointed,’ ‘increased in wisdom and stature,’ ‘learn- 
ed obedience, ’ make prominent the human nature of 
our Lord ; they refer to relationship which he assumed 
in becoming incarnate. We would not know this if 
there were not other Scriptures which show that this is 
true. With these alone and out of their connection , we 
might be led to the conclusion that Christ was only the 
highest of the creatures of God.” 

“Let me ask you this question, doctor. Did Jesus 
of Nazareth, when he said, My Father is greater than 
I , mean what he seemed to say ? or did he mean that, 
while there was an apparent inferiority, he was in fact 
equal with the Father, possessing the same perfections, 
being himself the absolute and supreme God, as you 
Christians say?” 

“He meant that, in the office of Redeemer, or Ser- 
vant of God, or Captain of the salvation of his people, 
as born of a woman and appointed under the law — in 
this character and in this alone, the Father was 
greater than he. It was only in his life in the flesh, in 
which he had voluntarily made himself of no reputa- 
tion and taken upon him the form of a servant, that he 
was inferior to the Father. In the original excellence 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


181 


of his being he thought it no robbery to be equal with 
God. In his assumed relations as redeemer of his peo- 
ple and as incarnate deity, and in these relations alone 
was he inferior to the Father.” 

“But, doctor, does not Jesus disclaim divine perfec- 
tions ? Do not his followers, when they speak of his 
highest exaltation, represent him as entirely dependent 
upon God ? The chief excellencies which you all say 
God possesses are self-existence, unlimited power, un- 
limited wisdom and infinite goodness. If I can show 
you, by the words of Jesus, that he disclaims one or all 
of these perfections, I think my case is made out, as 
uncle Norman here would say. Is not that so, sir 
Judge ? asked the young lady, her face flushed with ex- 
citement. 

“Yes, Laura, if you can show that, you will have a 
case at least. But you can’t show it. I know you 
can’t make out such a case and make it jingle with the 
rest of the Scriptures.” 

“I confess I am not very well acquainted with the 
Bible, as I have not given very much time to reading 
it. But, if your honor please, I wish you to act as 
Judge and decide whether I make out a case. 

“Self- existence means complete independence. It is 
life to which no other being is necessary. It is life 
which is not received from' any power outside ; self- de- 
rived and self- sustained. Jesus says often that he 
came not of himself but was sent by the Father. The 
old Athanasians said that Christ is God in possessing 
the very same divine essence, and you so-called ortho- 
dox folks say the same today. You all claim more for 
him than he claimed for himself. Of course, I am not 
skilled in religious hair splitting, but Jesus may either 
have been of a different essence from God and his life 


182 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


may have commenced when he was born in Bethlehem ; 
or he may have had a nature something like God, given 
to him before his earthly life began and before God 
created anything else ; but you orthodox folks say 
neither of these is true and that Jesus is indeed God. 
He says of himself, As the living .Father hath sent me, 
and I live by the Father, 1 as the Father hath life in 
himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in him- 
self. I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear I 
judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not 
mine own will, but the will of the F'ather who sent 
me. 2 One of his followers says, though he was cruci- 
fied through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of 
God. 3 These words surely disclaim self- existence. 

“You say,” continued Laura, “that infinite power 
is another mark of divinity. Jesus virtually denies this 
also.” 

“Hold, hold, my dear! Not so fast!’’ exclaimed 
the Judge. “Does he not plainly say, All power is given 
unto me in heaven and in earth. 4 ” 

“How dare the court so far forget itself as to place 
itself on one side of the question at issue ? I thought 
you were to act as Judge here and give an impartial 
hearing to both sides. How shall 1 hope for justice 
when the court commits itself in this manner? Dr. 
Prescott is the opposing counsel, and you are judge ” 
retorted Laura. “Surely you do not think one woman 
worthy of the steel of two such champions of ‘ortho- 
doxy’ as you and Dr. Prescott.” 

“The court then leaves you entirely in the hands of 
Dr. Prescott,” replied the Judge. 

“I intended speaking of the very passage you men- 
tioned,” said Laura. “All power is given seems clearly 

1 John 6: 57. 2 John (5: 2rt, 30. H 2 Cor. 13:4. 4 Matt. 28: 18. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


183 


to mean delegated power. Infinite power cannot be 
delegated. The word given necessarily limits the mean- 
ing of the word nil , and the meaning is simply all 
power necessary for the accomplishment of his work. 
To say that God can give all power is to say that he 
can cease to be God. Jesus says again, I can of mine 
own self do nothing , 1 and to sit on my right hand and 
on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be 
given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father . 2 
These words of Jesus teach us that he is not almighty, 
but that he is dependent in all things upon God. 

“You religious folks,” continued Laura, “tell us 
that having all knowledge is another thing true of 
God. He who knows all things needs not to be in- 
structed. Jesus savs, My teaching is not mine, but his 
that sent me , 3 and the word which ye hear is not 
mine, but his that sent me , 4 and as my Father hath 
taught me I speak these things/’ If .such words mean 
anything they clearly mean that the knowledge of 
Jesus was not original but derived. Jesus also says 
that his knowledge is limited. Of that day and hour 
knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, neither 
the Son, but the Father , 6 said Jesus; and Matthew of 
this reports him as saying, but my Father only . 1 We 
cannot escape from these words if we would. If we ad- 
mit that the Bible is God’s word we must believe that 
God spoke through Jesus. But on the testimony of 
Jesus himself we are shut up to the idea that only God 
has all knowledge.” 

“My dear sir,” exclaimed the Judge, “have you no 
testimon\ T to bring up ? My niece here I find knows 
something about Scripture, as well as about fine 

1 John 5 : 80. 2 Matt. 20 : 28. 8 John 7 : 10. 4 John 14 : 24. 5 John 8 : 28. 

0 Mark 18 : 82. 7 Matt. 24 : 80. 


184 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


dresses and dancing and looking sweet at the boys, 
and such like feminine accomplishments.” 

“I have testimony, Judge, but I desire to give Miss 
Laura ample time to bring out the full strength of her 
case. I will introduce it presently. She has referred to 
one other perfection of God, infinite goodness; let us 
hear what she has to say about that.” 

“Yes, sir, that is one thing I wished to mention. I 
freely concede, and I believe this is conceded by the 
great majority of those who attack the Bible, that 
Jesus of Nazareth was a good and lovable man, that 
he was rather a model of benevolence as he went about 
performing deeds of kindness. But when you come to 
speak of infinite and underived goodness, Jesus himself 
disclaims it. When the rich young ruler called him 
good master he answered, Why do you call me good ? 
there is none good but one, that is God . 1 In all can- 
dor, sir, what are we to do with these plain denials of 
Jesus of these perfections of God ? He has derived ex- 
istence, derived power, derived knowledge, and derived 
goodness, by his own testimony. Surely he knew 
about these things.” 

“All this, Miss Laura, is spoken only of Christ ns n 
man. He had a perfect human nature, a body, soul 
and mind, otherwise he would not have been a man. 
As a man he had a derived existence of all that was hu- 
man, and he grew in bodily size and strength, wisdom 
and perfection or completeness of human character. 
But connected with this human nature was perfect, 
original and underived deity. In him dwelt all the full- 
ness of the divine nature bodily .” 2 

“Let me interrupt you once more, doctor. I do not 
think there is any place in the Bible, but of this you 

1 Mark 10 : 18; Matt. 19 : 17. 2 Col. 2 : 9. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


185 


ought to know better than 1, where it is taught that 
Jesus had two natures, one human and one divine. He 
is ajways spoken of as a single person, the Christ, the 
Son of the living God. 1 He also spoke of himself as an 
individual, using the pronouns, 7, myself and me, of 
course in their common meaning. If he knew that all 
knowledge dwelt in him when he said he did not know 
the day or hour of his second coming, is not his lan- 
guage misleading? Here is also another statement I 
wish to read. Paul says, Then cometh the end, when 
he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even 
the Father, when he shall have put down all rule, and 
all authority, and power. For he shall reign until he 
shall have put all enemies under his feet. But when he 
saith, All things are put under him, it is manifest that 
he is excepted who did put all things under him. And 
when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall 
the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all 
things under tym, that God may be all in all. 2 Does 
not this teach that Jesus possesses only derived life and 
power, and that the derived power is to be returned to 
God?” 

“I have not interrupted you, Miss Laura, because I 
wished to see the full line of your defence. I beg you to 
seek wisdom from God to help you to understand the 
real teaching of the Bible. I do not think you have 
come to the Bible in the proper spirit to be sure of get- 
ting at its right meaning. Jesus says, If any man will 
do God’s will, he shall know of the teaching, whether 
it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 3 A desire to 
do God’s will is an essential to success in seeking to 
know God’s will. We should study the Bible with the 
purpose of doing whatever we find commanded in it.” 

I Matt. 22 : L«. 2 1 Oor. 15 : 24-28. 3 John 7 : 17. 


186 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“But, doctor, I admitted at first my doubts as to 
the divine origin of the Bible.” 

“That is one thing that grieves me. But now as to 
your interpretation of its words, supposing it is a 
divine Book. 

“The passages you have quoted, with many others 
that might be mentioned, may be easily understood of 
the Lord Jesus as a perfect man. I do not think this 
can be denied. You do not deny it, for you have in- 
sisted that, if they do not prove him to be a mere man, 
they at least prove him to be a created being. I accept 
the fact that they refer to that which was human in 
Christ. But I also heartily believe that, while Jesus 
was thoroughly human, he was also truly divine ; that 
he is God in the fullest sense, equally with God himself. 

“You have admitted, Miss Laura, that he is perfect 
and good, though you say, in a derived sense, y^et 
in such a sense as excludes every particle of sin. This 
true, he was all he claimed to be. He* claimed most 
clearly to be divine. He was either divine or the great- 
est of deceivers. He says, If any man come to me 
and hate not his father and mother and wife and 
children and brothers and sisters, yea, and his own life 
also, he cannot be my disciple . 1 He claims here what 
no creature, however exalted, has a right to claim 
— the supreme love of man’s heart. He also repeatedly' 
says he came down from heaven and was the Son 
of God. He also distinctly say^s, I and my Father are 
one . 2 In the sense of equally sharing the divine nature 
and perfections he is one with God. Before he came 
into the world God’s messengers were in the habit 
of giving all their messages with the expression, Thus 
saith the Lord, but in all his teaching our Lord ever 

1 Lu. 14 : 2«. 2 John 10 : 80. 


* 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


187 


spoke upon his own underived and independent au- 
thority. His oft recurring expression was, Verilv, I 
say unto you. Of him the Jews, who were sent to 
arrest him said, Never man spake like this man , 1 and 
He taught as one having authority and not as the 
scribes . 2 The Jews who heard him talk understood 
him as claiming equality with God and spoke of it 
in this way saying, Because that thou being a man, 
makest thyself God . 3 They said this and he did not 
correct them in understanding him.” 

‘‘That’s so, my dear sir! He did claim to be God, 
and was so understood by those who heard him,” said 
the Judge. 

“I must confess, Dr. Prescott,” said Laura, “that I 
see this claim of Jesus in a new light now. He was a 
real man. But his language seems to have made the 
impression on those who heard him that he also 
claimed to be God, and he did not try to remove that 
impression.” 

“If he was not really God,” continued Dr. Prescott, 
“we have no Savior. It matters not how high a place 
in the order of creatureship may be assigned to him ; it 
matters not how exalted the language and titles which 
are applied to him ; if he was created ; if in any sense or 
to any degree his life was received from another, then 
because of this creatureship he is under obligation 
to render for himself all the service possible to his 
exalted powers. Being created would bind him to this 
and would make it impossible for him to have any sur- 
plus merit to save sinners. Two things were absolute- 
ly necessary of the one who should become the Savior 
of sinful men. He must, in their stead , perfectly obey 
all the requirements of God’s perfectly holy moral law, 

1 John 7 : 1<>. 2 Matt. 7 : 20. 3 John 10 : 33. 


188 FROM error’s chains. 

and he must, in their stead, make complete satisfaction 
in suffering the punishment it demanded of those who 
had violated its precepts. If Jesus had been a created 
being he could not have met either of these require- 
ments. His creatureship, however high and glori- 
ous his being, would have made it necessary for him to 
give perfect obedience for himself and would have taken 
from his suffering infinite merit. The Scriptures say, 
Cursed is everyone who continueth not in all things 
written in the book of the law to do them. 1 Had 
not Jesus been divine, and therefore above the law, 
every service he could render would have been needed 
for himself. The soul that sinneth it shall die 2 would 
necessarily have been executed against every one of us 
if Jesus’ death, as the divine man 3 had not possessed 
the infinite merit which his divine nature imparted 
to it. ‘ If one creature fails to meet his obligations to 
God, how can another creature atone for the failure by 
satisfying the law which has been broken ? There 
must be merit to satisfy the claims of God’s law. But 
where is merit to be found in anything a creature can 
do 4 ? ’ ” 

“That’s a clincher, my dear sir! Laura, my dear, 
that’s simply unanswerable,” said the Judge. 

“How dare the court again show partiality of 
judgment? I am afraid I will have to move for a 
change of venue to secure a fair hearing,” retorted 
Laura. 

“The names of God,” continued Dr. Prescott, “are 
constantly applied to Jesus. Thy throne, 0 God is for- 
ever and ever ; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre 
of thy kingdom, 5 are words of the Old Testament 

1 Gal. 3 : 10. 2 Kzek. 18 : 4, 20. 3 “Theanthropos.” 4 Pendleton‘s “Christian 
Doctrines,” p. 74. 5 Psa. 45 : (5. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 




1 89 


applied to Jesus in the New- 1 It is God speaking to 
his Son and calling him God. When Thomas had been 
convinced of the resurredlion of Jesus he said, My Lord 
and my God . 2 He called him God and Jesus did not 
correct him. Paul savs, Of whom ( Israel ), as concern- 
ing the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed 
for ever . 3 If Jesus was not divine this language is cer- 
tainly unfortunate. Among many more such expres- 
sions I mention only one other. And w r e are in him 
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is 
the true God and eternal life . 4 Such language is, to 
sa v the least of it, extravagant and misleading, if the 
Bible did not mean to teach that Jesus is divine.” 

“But, _ Dr. Prescott, is not the force of this Bible 
usage in calling Jesus God greatly weakened by the 
fact that the name God was 'applied to Moses ? See, I 
have made thee a god to Pharoah,* said the Lord to 
MoSes. Those also were called gods to whom the 
word of God came. Jesus asks the Jews, Is it not writ- 
ten in your law, I said, ye are gods ? 6 The name God 
is used in such places to express a certain dignity.” 

“I am fully aware, Miss Laura, of such expressions. 
But whenever the word is used in such a sense there is 
always something to qualify its meaning and show 
that it is not used in its strict literal meaning. For ex- 
ample, in that place you have mentioned it is said, I 
have said, ye are gods ; and all of you are children of 
the Most High. But ye shall all die like men. No such 
qualification is ever used when the names of God are 
applied to Christ. When there is no reason for suppos- 
imr a figurative use of a word, it must always be 
understood literally. This, I believe, is a universal rule 


1 Heb. 1:8. 2 John 20 : 28. 8 Rom. 9:5. 4 John 5 : 20. 5 Exod. 7 : 1. 

0 John 10 : 84, Psa. 82 : 0. 


190 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


of interpretation, and every one must surely admit 
that it is eminently reasonable.” 

“That is always the rule in legal matters. We 
always take words in their ordinary literal sense unless 
there is some reason for understanding them figu- 
ratively,” said the Judge. 

“The works of God are ascribed to Christ,” contin- 
ued Dr. Prescott. “He was in the world, and the 
world was made by him, and the world knew him 
not . 1 It was of God in the flesh that this was said, 
God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, 
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom 
also he made the worlds. 2 ” 

“Let me interrupt you again, Dr. Prescott. Could 
not Christ be the highest created being, and yet be 
endowed by God with the power of creating worlds ? 
In the words you quote it is said, by whom he made 
the worlds.” 

“I do not think creative power can be delegated 
any more than God can transfer his essential deity to a 
creature. There is no difficulty in understanding this 
as a direct exertion of the original divine power of the 
Savior. But we read again, Who is the image of the 
invisible God, the first-born of every creature: for 
by him were all things created, that are in heaven and 
that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be 
thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers : all 
things were created by him and for him : and he is 
before all things, and by him all things consist . 3 To 
say that such power as this could be transmitted to 
a creature is the same as saying that almightiness 
could be transmitted, which is impossible, unless God 
can cease to be God. 

1 John 1 : 10. 2 Heb. 1:2. 3 Col. 1 : 15, 16, 17. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


191 


“Jesus is said to be eternal. But thou Bethlehem- 
Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands 
of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto 
me, that is to be ruler in Israel ; whose goings forth 
have been from old, from everlasting . 1 These words 
are applied to Christ, and teach that he who was born 
in Bethlehem had existed throughout eternity. He is 
said to be everywhere present. Where two or three 
are gathered together in my name, there am I in 
the midst of them. 2 ’’ 

“May not that mean that he is present by del- 
egated authority?” asked Laura. 

“Then let us hear him again,” replied Dr. Prescott. 
“He says this to his disciples, Lo, I am with you 
always even to the end of the age . 3 If he is thus every- 
where and always present with his followers he must 
be present in every place. He knows all things. He 
needed not that any should testify of man : for he knew 
what was in man . 4 Peter said to Jesus, Lord, thou 
knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee . 5 
He allowed Peter to ascribe to him all knowledge, and 
so claimed such, for if Peter had been mistaken he 
would have corrected him, for we agree that he was 
a good man. He is unchangable. It is said, Jesus 
Christ the same yesterday, today and forever . 6 God is 
represented as saying to his Son, Thou, Lord, in the 
beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth, and 
the heavens are the works of thy hands: they shall 
perish ; but thou remainest ; and they shall wax old as 
doth a garment ; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them 
up, and they shall be changed : but thou art the same, 
and thy years shall not fail . 7 In contrast with all 

1 Mieah 5:2. 2 Matt. 18 : 20. 3 Matt. 28 : 20. 4 John 2 : 25. 5 John 21 : 17. 

HHeb. 13:8. 7 Heb. 1 : 10- 12. 


192 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


created things the Lord Jesus Christ is unchangable. 
There is one other fact showing that Jesus is truly God. 

“He is repeatedly worshipped as God. It is idola- 
trous and sacrilegious to worship any created being, 
however exalted or powerful. To the Devil our Lord 
said, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy 
God and him only shalt thou serve . 1 God is the only 
true object of worship and no creature should receive 
worship, and every created being should reject the 
worship of men. When John fell down to worship the 
angel who revealed such wonderful things to him, the 
angel promptly said, See thou do it not: for I am thy 
fellow -servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and 
of them which keep the sayings of this book : worship . 
God. 2 ” 

“Let me ask you, Dr. Prescott, if God could not 
have created Jesus such an exalted and glorious being 
as that he would appoint him an object of worship?” 

“No, Miss Laura, not without relinquishing one of 
his essential perfections, that of being the only object 
of human worship, and therefore ceasing to be the only 
God. Of Jesus it is said, Who being in the form of God, 
thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Where- 
fore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a 
name which is above every name : that at the name of 
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, 
and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and 
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is 
Lord, to the glory of God the Father . 3 If every knee 
is to bow to him, then it is plain every one is to wor- 
ship him, and that is such homage as is due only to 
deity. Of course God the Father will be glorified, but 
the Son will be equally worshipped and honored. Jesus 

1 Matt. 4 i 10 cf Deut. 10 : 20 and Exod. 20 : 8-5. 2 Rev. 22 : 9. 3 Phil. 2 : 6, 9-11. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


193 


says that it will come to pass that all men will honor 
the Son, even as they, honor the Father . 1 In the words 
used in baptism 2 there is a solemn dedication to the 
Son and Holy Spirit equally with the Father; and in 
the Apostolic benediction 3 there is a prayer to Son and 
Holy Spirit equally with the Father. 

“Also, Jesus plainly claimed the power to forgive 
sins and made good his claims by the performance of a 
miracle. A man, helpless and wasted from palsy, was 
brought to him by four friends, who, unable to press 
through the crowd with their burden, climbed to the 
roof, and removing the tiling, lowered the sick man by 
ropes into the presence of Jesus . 4 He looked upon the 
sick man and said, Your sins are forgiven. The Jews 
immediately charged him with blasphemy, asking, 
Who can forgive sins but God only? Is it harder to 
forgive sins than to heal this man’s palsy ? he asked. 
But to show them that he could do both he com- 
manded the sick man to arise and he obeyed. 

“The truth that Jesus is God is the underlying 
thought of the whole Gospel. It is the bulwark of faith 
in him. It is the very life-blood of Christianity. It is 
so interwoven into the warp and woof of the New Tes- 
tament, that when you remove it you have destroyed 
the whole fabric. As Phidias so skillfully engraved his 
image on the shield of Minerva that it could not 
be removed without destroying the shield, so the divin- 
ity of Jesus is so deeply graA^en upon the Gospel that if 
you destroy that we would ha\ r e no Gospel left. It is 
a first truth, and without it we have no saHation and 
no Savior. It is written, Let all the angels of heaven 
worship him . 5 I join in this angelic worship to him 
who is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the 

1 John 5 : 23. 2 Matt. 28 : 19. 3 2 Cor. 13 : 14. 4 Mark 2 : 3-12. 5 Heb. 1 : 6. 


194 


FROM ERROR’S CHAIX<5 


express image of his person . 1 If he is not divine he 
cannot save. But he is able to save to the uttermost 
those who come unto God by him , 2 and I am per- 
suaded that he is able to keep that which I have com- 
mitted to him . 3 What a sweet joy it would afford me 
to see you a trusting believer in this all-powerful 
Savior. Miss Laura, will you not earnestly investi- 
gate his claims to the loving adoration of your heart?” 

“I dare not make any rash promises, Dr. Prescott. 
You remember the old adage, ‘ Promises an’ pie crusses 
are made to be broken.’ Sometime I may examine the 
matter again. This afternoon we have investigated 
before a partial judge,” she said with an arch look, at 
Judge Norman. “The rulings of the court have all 
been favorable to your side of the question. Come, 
Julia, and let us have some music,” and she was soon 
at the piano, from which she drew out sweet rich 
strains of music. The very spirit of music seemed to 
find expression from her finger-tips as she skillfull v 
and vivaciously greeted the company with the lovliest 
selections she could call to mind. But, though appar- 
ently so light-hearted and thoughtless, there was 
an unrest in her soul, which had been produced by the 
earnest words of Dr. Prescott. To the surprise of every 
one, she at length struck up on the hymn : 

“I gave my life for thee. 

My precious blood I shed, 

That thou might’st ransomed be. 

And quickened from the dead ; 

I gave my life for thee, 

What hast thou given for me ? 

“My Father’s house of light. 

My glory - circled throne, 

I left for earthly night, 

For wanderings sad and lone; 

I left it all for thee, 

What hast thou left for me ? ” 

1 Heb. 1:8. 2 Heb. 7 : 25. 8 2 Tim. 1 : 12. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


195 


“I must say, Will, that I am becoming more and 
more bewildered about this religious business. Now 
the very foundations seem to be sinking under my 
feet. I never dreamed that even in the early days of 
Christianity there was such wide-spread discussion 
even of the divinity of Jesus. After all, it may be an in- 
genious imposture.” They had left the company and 
were strolling in the yard, among the flowers. 

“In God’s providence, Miss Julia, this very contro- 
versy was permitted in order that our Lord’s divinity 
might be settled for all time. The great body of Chris- 
tians, because of the popularity of Christianity and its 
patronage by the government, were merely nominal, 
and had no genuine religious experience and their 
doubt of this great fact amounted to no more really 
than the doubt heaped on it now by multitudes of 
avowed enemies. All real Christians, in and out of the 
established church, fully believed Jesus was divine.” 

“Perhaps so, Will, but I am almost persuaded to 
act . upon Laura’s philosophy and eat and drink and 
dance and have a good time for we soon die.” 

“By the way, Miss Julia, I was very much pained 
by 3 r our dancing recently at Judge Norman’s. Why did 
you allow yourself to be inveigled into the silly, giddy 
whirl of the dance ? ” 

“Pray, sir, why should you be pained with any 
action of mine which seems to conflict with 'your puri- 
tanical conscience ? And why should you presume to 
sit in judgment upon my actions and condemn them ? 
Your impertinence is intolerable!” 

“I meant no impertinence, Julia.” 

“Miss Julia, if you please ! ” 

“Very well, Miss Julia, my profound interest in 
your happiness prompted me to speak the words I 


196 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


have spoken, and nothing was farther from my inten- 
tion than censure or impertinence.” 

“Reserve your ‘profound interest,’ Mr. Mortimer, 
for whom it may be availing. As for myself, when I 
desire exhibitions of the said ‘interest,’ or when I 
desire you to become my father confessor I shall cer- 
tainly inform you.” 

“I beg pardon, Miss Julia, and if my presence be as 
unwelcome as my ‘ interest ’ in your happiness seems to 
be, it might be the part of discretion to bid you good 
evening.” 

“As you like, sir ! ” she answered coldly. 

Thus they parted in anger and bitterness, though 
in Will’s heart there was still the purpose to continue 
his prayers in behalf of the young lady. As for Julia, 

“She knew she was by him beloved— she knew, 

For quickly comes such knowledge, that his heart 
Was darkened with her shadow.” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


197 


CHAPTER XVII. 


A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY. 

“All nature is but art unknown to thee; 

All chance, direction, which thou can’st not see: 

All discord, harmony not understood; 

All partial evil, universal good; 

And spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite, 

One truth is clear, whatever is, is right.” 

—Pope. 

“True, my dear sir,” said Judge Norman, after cor- 
dially greeting Dr. Prescott and his wife, who came 
in just as he had read these words of Pope, “every 
thing may be right, but there are some things which 
appear to me to be terribly curious and crooked in this 
old world. You see, my dear sir, my profession brings 
me in contact with an awful sight of human crooked- 
ness. The poet must certainly have left out of his cate- 
gory all human actions ; for they certainty are, 
and are not right — that is, the majority of them 
are not right.” 

“‘Whatever is’ can be right, Judge, only in the 
sense of being a part of God’s great purpose concerning 
the human race. Everything will be compelled to 
work together for good to them who love God and 
who are the called according to his purpose , 1 by reason 
of God’s over ruling power. For he doeth according 


1 Rom. 8:28. 


198 



to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the 
inhabitants of the earth: and none ean stay his hand, 
or say unto him, What dost thou ? 1 He makes the 
wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of 
wrath he restrains. 2 Everything which conies to pass 
is right in the sense of contributing in some way to the 
glory of God.” 

“True, my dear sir, true. I had not thought of dis- 
posing of the crookedness and curious ways of men in 
that clever manner. It must be so. The}^ reveal the 
righteousness of God and therefore they are right.” 

“There is one thing we must guard against just on 
this line, Judge. We must not be guilty of exculpating, 
or explaining away, the crimes of wicked men, on 
account of the fact that God makes their crimes con- 
tribute to his glory. They are just as guilty as 
if their actions had no place in the purposes of God. 
God controls every thing, every act and every event, 
for the fulfilling of his purposes, bu.t wicked men are 
none the less guilty on account of this fa6t.” 

“Well, Clifford ! my dear fellow, I am right glad to 
see you — ” 

Such was Judge Norman’s hearty greeting as Clif- 
ford Burton entered, with his cousin, Julia Ashton. 
They were soon joined by Laura. 

“My dear sir,” continued the Judge, looking 
askance at these three young people, “if there is any 
thing in the world past finding out it is the way of a 
young man with a maiden.” 

“No insinuations, sir Judge,” said Laura. “Remem- 
ber that your honor was once young.” 

“Which I do remember, Laura, my dear, and from 
which I do now predicate the unknowableness of the 


1 Dan. 4:85. 


l' Psa. 7«: lo. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


199 


ways of young people. Here’s my friend, Julia, for 
example. I cannot tell what on earth she has been 
doing to my man, Will Mortimer. For some days he 
has been moping around as though he had been 
thrown over the moon and got his back broken in the 
operation. Deal gently with the young man, Julia, for 
my sake, for our business now demands his best 
efforts.” 

“Judge Norman,” exclaimed Julia, her eyes flashing, 
and her cheeks scarlet, “I am in no sense Mr. Morti- 
mer’s keeper, and I protest against being in any way 
associated with the said young man in your conversa- 
tion.” 

“Very well, Miss Julia, very well; upon your pro- 
testation of innocence I cheerfully exculpate you from 
the implied accusation. But certainly some curious 
spell has come over Will lately. It’s certainly very 
wonderful.” 

During this sally of Judge Norman, Clifford Burton 
and Laura Chatfield had quietly stolen away from the 
company and were wandering among the last flowers 
of summer in Judge Norman’s beautiful grounds. 

“Miss Laura,” Clifford said, as soon as they were 
alone, “it is an exquisite pleasure to me to be here this 
fine September day, enjoying these lovely flowers and 
being near 3^011.” 

“Look here now, Clifford Burton, 3 r ou and I have 
known each other always, and you know I am glad to 
meet you here in Uncle Norman’s elegant home ; but 
don’t play r the fool and begin any of your sentimental 
nonsense in my presence, or I shall be compelled to give 
y^our sentiment heroic treatment at once.” 

“Miss Laura — ” 

“I am simply Laura, Clifford, and I hopevou will 


200 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS 


not be guilty of any superfluous words when you talk 
with me.” 

“Well, Laura, then; don’t be so sarcastic. Was it 
not a trifle presumptuous in you to jump to the conclu- 
sion that I was growing sentimental when I expressed 
my pleasure at being in the luxurious grounds in com- 
pany with you ? The beauty of this place and the 
presence of a vivacious companion is sufficient to 
inspire overwhelming sentiment; but you were possibly 
just a little hasty in your conclusion as to the nature 
of that sentiment. But as I do not wish my sentiment 
to be subjected to any such heroic treatment as you 
threaten I will put on the brakes.” 

“No, Clifford, if this is the true interpretation, I beg 
of you to ‘ let nature caper, ’ and do not put on the 
brakes. Perhaps I was a trifle presumptuous, but I 
exercised the feminine right of reading a little ‘ between 
the lines,’ and misjudged you. Now that we fully 
understand each other, I beg pardon for any presump- 
tion of which I may have been guilty and in turn 
absolve you from all liability to the aforesaid heroic 
treatment.” 

“In spite of my wish not to offend you, Laura, nor 
to be charged with sentimentalism, I must say that 
you are charming, you are bewitching tod a}'.” 

“Listen to me, Clifford. Did I not read correctly 
between the lines a moment ago ? Did I really act pre- 
sumptuously in warning you of a heroic treatment to 
cure you of your folly? Have you not already com- 
mitted yourself? Shall I administer the treatment ?” 

“Don’t be presumptuous, Laura. You know you 
are charming, and why should I be charged with hav- 
ing committed myself in any way or to any folly if I 
tell you a plain unvarnished truth ? ” 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


201 


“Yes, yes, Clifford, I see. Pardon my presumption. 
II you should ever be tempted to be guilty of any senti- 
mental folly, kindly make me your confidant and I’ll 
give you the benefit of my experience and help. As a 
warning, I point you to the case of your sweet 
cousin Julia, and uncle Norman’s partner, Will Morti- 
mer. Did you not notice how angry she became a 
moment ago when uncle referred to Will in her pres- 
ence. Why should the dear child so indignantly repel 
all allusion to the young barrister? Perhaps it was 
because she did not care anything for him ; but ‘most 
people would not think so. As for the said young gen- 
tleman, his face and general deportment and present 
woe -begone appearance, are a great sign- board, with 
his love for Julia written upon it in large characters so 
plain that ‘he that runneth may read.’ By the way, 
Clifford, you see I can quote Scripture when occasion 
demands it.” 

“So I see, Miss Laura. But ‘even the Devil can cite 
Scripture for his purpose.’ ” 

“Thank you for the compliment. But here y r ou are 
calling me Miss Laura again.” 

“I stand corrected.” 

“As I was going to say, Clifford, here is this hand- 
some young couple, Will Mortimer and Julia Ashton, 
head over heels in love with each other — though, it 
must be admitted, Julia possibly is not yet fully aware 
of the state of her heart. As you gave one of Shakes- 
peare’s old saws a moment ago I am reminded of an- 
other which exactly fits the case of these young friends. 
It runs thus, if my memory is not at lault ; ‘ For love is 
blind, and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that they 
themselves commit.’ ” 

“Surely, Laura, you must be wonderfully skilled in 


202 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


these affairs of the heart. Never having had any per- 
sonal experience in such affairs, your interpretation 
of the experiences of others is all the more wonderful. 
You ought to be installed as high - priestess of the 
Delphian oracle of the human heart; for I am per- 
suaded that you would give with unerring precision its 
responses. All jesting aside, I did not know such a 
serious case existed between my cousin and Will Morti- 
mer.” 

“It has been apparent to me some time,” said 
Laura, “though I have never mentioned it to either 
party as they have not seen fit to give me their confi- 
dence. One serious aspect of the case is that religion is 
mixed up in the affair, which complicates matters won- 
derfully. Since your brother Harry’s conversion last 
year friends have been talking a great deal to Julia on 
the subject of religious superstitions, which, together 
with Will’s espousal of the religious craze, has greatly 
perplexed Julia’s mind. Sometimes she is almost read}^ 
to throw the whole thing over board as a delusion, 
and at others she is so impressed with the goodness 
of her devoted uncle, who is a good man, that she hesi- 
tates. And, by the way, the present state of the case is 
the result of a tiff between them, I think, on the subject 
of religion. I do not know this, but Julia has inti- 
mated that Will tried to lecture her about wine drink- 
ing and dancing at uncle Norman’s banquet some time 
since, and that she resented his interference. Such 
would furnish a rational explanation of the scene in 
the parlor a few moments ago. Ah, me, if people 
would just wipe out these antiquated superstitions 
and live rationally for the present we could get so 
much more out of life. But in the midst of our pleas- 
ures religion trots out its skeleton of coming death and 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


203 


judgment to rattle its bom^ fingers in our faces. It 
was even rumored, Clifford, that you were ‘almost per- 
suaded to be a Christian.’ I am glad that 3^ou took a 
sober second thought and looked before you leaped.” 

“I have a profound respect for Christianity, Laura,” 
said the young man, “No one could be otherwise 
impressed in view of the excellent life of my uncle, my 
mother and some other Christians ; and I was per- 
suaded last year to seek it with all my heart, and did 
go at it earnestly. But I met with a dear friend who 
persuaded me that all there is in Christianity is a good 
system of ethics, a good moral code, and that I could 
get the whole of it by a simple obedience to the ten 
commandments. This man’s life was spotless and he 
enjoyed the profound respect and confidence of the 
community. He often said to me, ‘ If the Devil gets me 
it will be for honest, fair and square dealing.’ ‘Such, 
Clifford,’ he would say, ‘is my religion. Make it 
yours.’ Such, Laura, is my religion today. I obey the 
requirements of the moral law. I do not steal, I do 
not lie, I do not kill, I pay all my just debts, I honor 
my parents, I observe all the requirements of the moral 
law. God will not punish me when I live such an 
upright and moral life.” 

“My religion, Clifford, is much simpler than that. 
It is get the most out of life while we have it, for it will 
end soon enough any way. But since you have kindly 
mentioned your creed, -I beg leave to suggest one defect 
in it which occurs to me, though you know I am not 
much of a religionist. What is to be said of those sins, 
or failures to obey the law, which took place before 
you set out on this line of perfect morals? — for I sup- 
pose you will confeas to some little moral delinquencies 
in those early days.” 


204 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Yes, Laura, of course, I must confess to some 
moral short -comings and to some follies in my early 
youth. But, if I continue to live in perfect obedience to 
the moral law, my life will be in the main good, and 
God will surely overlook a few failures when I have 
done the best I could, and when mv life has been in the 
main so moral.” 

'“Excuse me, Clifford, but that reminds me. I was 
recently reading of a good moral man who reasoned 
about this matter and talked as you do. He hired a 
so-called pious Irishman to build him a fence around 
a certain piece of ground. Pat had heard the gentle- 
man talking of his morality and of his belief that God 
would be willing to average up accounts with him and 
to overlook a few failures, as his life was in the main 
correct. The fence was finishqd and the proprietor 
said; ‘Pat, did you build me a good fence ?’ ‘Yis, sur, in 
the main it is a good, high, strong fence. I only left a 
few gaps, sur, but in the main it is a moightv strong- 
fence.’ ‘You stupid dolt! didn’t you know the gaps 
would make the whole fence useless ? What do I want 
with a fence, however strong, if there are any gaps ? ’ 
‘Then, sur, you are more particular than God, for you 
said he wouldn’t moind a few gaps if the fence was in 
the main corredt.’ He felt the rebuke. Listen to me, 
Clifford, if you start out on the line that there is future 
life and a God who demands perfect obedience you are 
shut up to the acceptance of Christ or some other rem- 
edy for moral delinquencies.” 

“How strange to hear my light hearted friend 
speak in that way of Christ,” said Julia, who joined 
them at this point, her face still flushed, rendering her 
truly beautiful. 

“But, my dear,” said Laura, “you did not hear it 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


205 


all. I was arguing from the premises of this young 
gentleman who is no t w working on the line of, ‘do this 
afid live’ and was trying to show him the conclusion to 
which he would be driven. As for me, I do not know 
certainly about any other world than the present and 
the true policy is to compound and quaff its nectar 
while we may.” 

‘‘Laura, I believe you are right. I find my resolu- 
tion ever growing to reach out my hand and grasp, the 
chalice of pleasure while it is within reach.” 

Further conversation was interrupted by the 
stentorian tones of Judge Norman calling to them: 

“Laura, my dear, come right in, everyone of you. 
Here is something good I wish you to hear.” 

“More of this religious business, I dare say,” said 
Laura in an aside to her companions. “How it palls 
on my taste ! Howl wish I could escape the whole 
hateful business.” 

“Laura, Dr. Prescott has a condensed sketch of the 
history of that old controversy the old time people had 
about the divinity of our Lord. You have often 
referred to this as some great hubbub about Christ 
among his own people. Now I want you all to hear 
this and see just what it amounted to. Please read, 
Doctor.” 

When all were seated the doctor read in a clear 
and distinct voice : 

“‘Those who deny the divinity of our Lord Jesus 
Christ are fond of saying that the belief that he is God 
was an entirely new idea, declared for the first time by- 
those who opposed Arius in the fourth century. But 
as a matter of fact, Christians originally held that he 
was God and worshipped him as such, and this truth 
was never doubted nor questioned by professing Christ- 


206 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


ians, except by a few who fell away from their stead- 
fastness, until the time of Arius.* But until that time 
Christians were so severely persecuted that they could 
not give much time to clear statements of Christian 
doctrine. 

“‘Arius was a man of commanding appearance, 
of irreproachable life, of great magnetic power, of ex- 
tensive learning and of thrilling and fascinating 
eloquence. It is said that Arius being ambitious, was 
anxious to be made bishop instead of Achilles, but 
that, to his chagrin, Alexander was chosen to the 
bishopric. Alexander, on one occasion presented to his 
inferior clergy his views, in strong language, of the 
divinity of Christ, and Arius, in disapproval, said that 
such a doctrine was inconsistent and impossible, since 
the Father, who begat, must be before the Son, who 
was begotten, and that therefore there was a time 
when the Son did not exist. He presented his cause 
with great ability and spirit and refused to retreat 
from this statement of his faith. At length, in the year 
320, Alexander assembled a council of the clergy and 
Arius was excommunicated. 

‘“He withdrew to Palestine, and there his talents 
and thrilling eloquence made many converts to his 
views, which, of course, must have been new and differ- 
ent from the commonly received belief or there would 
have been no necessity of men being converted to them. 
Among those who were won over by his talents and 
eloquence was Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, and so 
all of his influence was given to the cause of Arianism. 

“ ‘The emperor, Constantine, was grieved to see the 
Christian portion of his empire thus torn by contro- 
versy, and he therefore determined to call a general 
council of all the Christian ministry from all parts 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


207 


of his empire and have the matter decided in this gen- 
eral gathering. This convocation, which was called 
the FIRST GENERAL council, was held at Nice, in 
Bithvnia, in the year 325, at which were assembled 
more than three hundred bishops. The emperor at- 
tended the council in person, and greatly desired to see 
the matter amicably adjusted. There were three 
parties at this council. The Arian party, led by Arius; 
the orthodox party, led by Athanasius ; and a middle 
party led by Eusebius. The middle party presented a 
statement of belief in which it was held that Christ 
was of a similar nature with the Father, and the 
Arians were willing to unite with them on this as the 
next best to their own. The part}'' who was led by 
Athanasius, and who held that Christ was thoroughly 
divine, declared, in their statement of belief, that Christ 
is of the same nature or essence with the Father. 

“‘After much deliberation, by the interference of 
the emperor, for the Arians were in the majority, a 
formula of faith was adopted, declaring that there is 
“one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God ; 
begotten of his Father before all worlds; God of God ; 
Light of Light ; very God of very God ; begotten not 
made; being of one substance with the Father, by 
whom all things were made.” To this statement of 
belief was joined a curse against all who should say 
that “There was a time when the Son was not.” All 
were required to sign this .statement of belief, and Arius 
and two others refusing to do this, were excommuni- 
cated and banished to Illiricum. 

“After a few years, the emperor, vascillating, 
recalled the exiles. Athanasius had become bishop 
of Alexandria, and was required by the emperor to 
receive Arius into the communion, which he declined to 


208 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


do. Arms, however, suddenly died on the day before 
he was to be received into the communion of the 
church at Alexandria. Athanasius was a great man, 
able, eloquent, and was firmly fixed in the conscien- 
tious stand he took against the teachings of Arianism. 

“After the death of Arius and of the emperor Con- 
stantine the controversy continued to rage, the two 
parties having each the ascendency according to the 
stand taken by the emperors. During the controversy 
Athanasius was banished and recalled five times, 
spending twenty years in exile. But the Arian party 
grew weaker all the while until in the year 381 another 
general council was called at Constantinople. In 
this council the Nicene faith was re-affirmed and also 
the personality of the Holy Spirit was declared as 
against the teachings of one Macedonius.’ ” 

Dr. Prescott ceased reading. 

“Now, my dear sir,” said the Judge, “that’s what I 
call a clincher. That gives the true inwardness of the 
case.” 

“I believe,” replied Dr. Prescott, “that these error- 
ists were permitted, in the providence of God, to wield 
their great influence, and bring about these great con- 
troversies in order that these great truths of the Bible 
might be brought out in prominence and acknowl- 
edged before the world. In this Arian controversy a 
great battle was fought which continued for fifty 
years, over this great truth of which we have been 
talking this evening — whether the Lord Jesus Christ 
was truly God, equal in all divine perfections with the 
Father. Clearer views and a firmer hold upon this 
truth by the Christian world was the result of this con- 
flidl. But this all amounts to but little with us unless 
we have personally felt his divine power to save us 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


209 


from sin. To be of practical value there must be in 
each of our hearts a personal experience of his divinity. 
This is eternal life, that they might know thee the onty 
true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent . 1 My 
earnest prayer is that you young ladies and your 
friend here may know this loving almighty Savior.” 

Saying this the doctor and Mrs. Prescott took 
their leave and were gone. 

“Oh, my, what an uncomfortable amount of theol- 
ogy we have had this afternoon,” said light-hearted 
Laura to Julia and Clifford. “But somehow the earnest 
words of Dr. Prescott make me feel very much dissatis- 
fied with the empty, frivolous life I have been leading.” 

“They make me thoroughly miserable! ” exclaimed 
Julia. “How I do wish I could come into that better 
life of which he tells us, if there is any. such life.” 

“Well, well, don’t get in the dumps, Julia, dear,” 
said her friend. “We will not let loose our present life 
vet, for a while, at least. For my part, I am not yet 
convinced of the reality of this religious business. It is 
all vague and shadowy, and uncertain, and although 
Dr. Prescott can talk me down, I do not yet admit 
that he is right and I am wrong. With me ‘a bird in 
the hand is worth two in the bush.’ Give me the 
pleasures of this world until I am convinced there is 
something better.” 

“But, Laura, here is the thing which perplexes me. 
There are some persons, as Dr. Prescott and my own 
uncle, whom you cannot call fanatics or enthusiasts, to 
whom Jesus Christ and his truth is such a real power 
and joy. If he was not divine, how has he been able to 
project his influence down through all the centuries 
and make it such a real power today with some of his 


1 John 17: o. 


210 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


followers ? Besides they say to every one of us poor 
sinners, all we have to do is to trust him fully and we 
will experience his power. How it all is, I cannot un- 
derstand. I wish I could.” 

“Neither can I understand all these issues that 
might be raised. As I cannot, I do not propose to 
worry my brain about them. If there is a God he has 
given us the good things of life to enjoy. While I live I 
mean to have as good a time as possible.” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


211 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

A STRUGGLE FOR A PRINCIPLE. 

“ ’Tis liberty alone that gives the flower 
Of fleeting life Its lustre and perfume; 

And we are. weeds without It.” 

— Cowper. 

Out of the wild conflict of good with evil there 
has come to free and happy America the recog- 
nition of the truth, taught in the Scriptures, that 
civil rulers have no right to prescribe any form of relig- 
ious belief for their constituency — that the field of relig- 
ious thought and religious faith is a field which is to be 
traversed only by the individual soul and its God, 
unless in the exercise of religious rites one should be 
guilty of infringing upon public morals or antagoniz- 
ing the general good. Upon this ground, and not upon 
the ground of rights to supervise the conscience, it 
would be proper to suppress the polygamy of Mor- 
monism, the funeral pile, and the murderous car 
of the Juggernaut of India, and the horrid human sac- 
rifices of the “Dark Continent; ” if the devotees of such 
religious systems should become sufficiently numerous 
in America to desire to engage in their religious rites. 

The religion of our Lord does not propose to inter- 
fere with any of the duties of men as citizens of civil 
societv. On the other hand, it proposes to make men 


212 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


and women better members of society, and fit them for 
better performing all the duties that rest upon them, 
for it has the promise of the life that now is, and 
of that which is to come . 1 But it also claims the 
exclusive right to invade the domain of man’s con- 
science and prescribe for him the religious faith he must 
hold. Is this truth, which has come to the American 
people through so much conflict and bloodshed, fully 
understood ? Is it fully observed in the administration 
of our government ? 

A point in this story is now reached when this 
question of freedom of conscience acquires a fresh inter- 
est and importance. 

A year has passed and it is again September. Ever 
and anon the disquiet of soul, that has been so 
oppressive, has come afresh in wild billows which have 
rolled over the soul of Julia. She has fully determined 
to quaff the cup of earthfy pleasure, but this resolution 
has often been shaken by more serious thoughts. For 
in her moments of quiet she realizes more and more the 
thorough emptiness of every thing which the world 
calls pleasure. Her uncle’s ample means afford her 
every opportunity for dressing in the prevailing style 
and according to the latest fashions, and offer her 
every desired luxury. But dress and society and per- 
sonal luxury somehow pall on her taste and she finds 
her chief pleasure in ministering to her uncle’s simple 
wants. The disquiet within becomes more apparent in 
the fading of the roses from her cheeks. 

Will Mortimer’s frequent visits to Ashton Hall 
have been resumed, as his disagreement with Julia, 
rather her resentment against his attempt to kindly 
reprove her on a former occasion, has all passed away 


1 1 Tim. 4:8. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


213 


as a cloud is brushed away by the breezes of summer, 
and the old friendly relations have been restored. He 
has progressed well in his legal studies, has been 
recently admitted to the bar and is now a full-fledged 
lawyer. Judge Norman has associated young Morti- 
mer with him in his practice of law ; but he has also 
been a zealous Christian in his various religious duties 
and is useful in a variety of ways in the city. He is 
pained to see his fair friend so pale, but persuades him- 
self that she is more beautiful than ever, and that the 
autumn breezes and bracing weather will bring the 
roses again to her cheeks. She does not mention the 
subject of religion, but rather seems to avoid it, yet he 
fancies that religious subjects have a greater interest 
for her than she is willing to admit. 

As she and Will were seated in the library at Ash- 
ton Hall, after their return from the lecture at the city 
hall, this September evening she asked : 

“Uncle, what do you think of the object proposed 
by the lecturer this evening ? It seems to me that he 
made a very strong case, and that if we have a Christ- 
ian government we ought to have a recognition 
of Christ in our national Constitution. I am sure this 
would give Christianity a greater prominence and so a 
decided advantage in the nation, and this should be 
done if, as the lecturer said, Christianity has raised the 
nation to its present state of civil excellence. It would 
be but acknowledging the nation’s indebtedness to the 
religion of Christ. While I am in no sense committed 
to the side of religion, I am sure many in the audience 
thought it very bad taste in Dr. Prescott, when called 
out, to speak disapprovingly of the movement.’’ 

“My dear, ’’said Mr. Ashton, “I need not assure you 
that I desire above all things to see my Savior honored 


214 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


among men. I would be delighted to have all men and 
women accept him as their Savior and as the Lord 
of their affections. But, with my pastor, I heartily dis- 
approve of this movement, which has been inaugurated 
by good men, and, no doubt, with the most pious 
of motives, to have the name of Christ inserted in our 
national Constitution. If it is right for our govern- 
ment to recognize Christ and make his religion 
national it is right for the government to make every 
other religion unlawful. Christ in the Constitution 
would be a discrimination in favor of Christianity, and 
a standing menace to the hundreds of thousands 
of Jewish citizens of our country and to many others 
who do not acknowledge Christ as their Savior.” 

“But, Mr. Ashton,” said Will Mortimer, “the great 
majority of the people of our country are Christians, or 
are favorably inclined towards Christianity, and as in 
this country majorities rule, I see no reason why the 
religion of the majority should not be recognized in the 
national Constitution. The lecturer informed us that 
the movement was favored by a ‘number of distin- 
guished laymen, including even a judge of the Supreme 
Court of the United States, and some able and honored 
ministers, Episcopal and Presbyterian,’ and that they 
take the position that the nation ought to have a 
religion.” 

“It is true, Will, that a majority of our nation are 
Christians in sentiment. But suppose the principle is 
adopted that our nation should have some religion 
recognized in its Constitution. Suppose then that the 
majority in the nation should happen to be at some 
time Buddhists and should insist in having Buddhism 
recognized in the Constitution. How would it then 
seem to the Christian minority ? They would be out_ 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


215 


lawed and would no doubt be persecuted for their relig- 
ious views. Such has been the case in the past, and 
Christians have suffered cruel tortures and death 
because some other form of religion happened to be in 
the majority and was recognized by the government.” 

“In this age of liberty, Mr. Ashton, and with the 
wide spread influence of our holy religion, surely there 
would be no danger in thus having a Christian nation 
merely recognize Christ. Those days of which you 
spoke were chiefly confined to what were the dark 
ages of the world. Here in our country the principles 
of Christianity wield a controling influence and would 
check any such results as you fear. At any rate, it 
seems so to me.” 

“Then you think, Will, that history would not 
repeat itself in America. I think differently. Human 
nature being the same, similar causes would produce 
similar results today.” 

During the afternoon of the following day, 
after Julia and her friend had returned from a buggy 
ride, and as she was pouring out her soul in sweet 
strains of melody, Judge Norman entered, apparently 
in a state of excitement, and requested to see Mr. Ash- 
ton. Seated in the parlor, fragrant with the breath 
of flowers which floated in through the open windows, 
the Judge, in his impulsive manner, stated the object 
of his visit. 

“My dear sir, I am met on every hand with ex- 
clamations of surprise that our preacher should not 
favor this movement for inserting the name of Christ 
in our Constitution. I don’t understand his position, 
sir, and think it would be an eminently proper thing to 
have our Christian religion recognized in this way in 
our grand country.” 


216 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Judge, I will allow the pastor to speak for him- 
self, for 1 see him coming in just now.” 

“We were just speaking of our pastor when I saw 
him coming up the walk,” said Mr. Ashton after greet- 
ing Dr. Prescott. * 

“A poor subject of conversation, truly,” replied the 
pastor, “but I trust you were saying nothing worse 
than is warranted by actual facts.” 

dear sir, I was just saying to Mr. Ashton here 
that I am totally at a loss to understand why you dis- 
approved of the proposition of the lecturer last even- 
ing. Every one, or at least quite a number, of those 
who heard his presentation of the case thought it 
would be a blessed triumph of our orthordox Christian 
religion to have the name of Christ recognized by the na- 
tion, and many are surprised at the course you pursued.” 

“I intended to say nothing, Judge, on that occas- 
ion, but, as you know, I was called out, and, in faith- 
fulness to my convictions of the teachings of God’s 
Word, was compelled to speak as I did.” 

“What sir! Has God’s Word anything to say on 
the subject ? I thought Christians were under obliga- 
tions to preach the gospel to every creature. And I am 
sure such a recognition of Christ would be a great ad- 
vantage gained in preaching his gospel. At any rate it 
would be a recognition of the great national debt we 
owe to his religion in lifting us up to the high state 
of civilization which we have attained.” 

The conversation was interrupted hy the entrance 
of Mr. Dixon, the Methodist pastor, accompanied by 
the lecturer of the previous evening. The}' were intro- 
duced, and after greetings, the conversation was 
resumed, the substance of what preceded having been 
repeated for the benefit of the new guests. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


217 


“Of that I am not at all sure,” said Dr. Prescott, in 
reference to Judge Norman’s remark, “especially if it 
involves the sacrifice of principles clearly declared in 
the Scriptures. I yield to none in my desire for the 
spread of the glorious gospel of Christ. But I am 
cpiite sure that this national recognition of Christ, 
when reduced to its last analysis, implies the sacrifice 
of our blessed American idea of religious freedom.’’ 

“How can that be,” asked the lecturer. “Is there 
any thing in this recognition of Christ by the nation to 
infringe upon any man’s religious freedom ?” 

“I think so, quite decidedly,” replied Dr. Prescott. 
“Render unto Ca:-sar the things that are Caesar’s, and 
unto God the things that are God’s , 1 is the precept 
of the Christ himself. That contains in it the germ 
of religious freedom which is not fully recognized in 
any government except our own. The civil authority 
is to be entirely distinct from religion, and religion is 
to be entirely distinct from civil government.^ Neither 
is to dictate to, or assume any authority in the 
domain of the other. The government is not to give 
the slightest discrimination in favor of any form 
of religious belief, and no religion is to assume any dic- 
tation whatever in the domain of government. Ciesar 
is to have all of Oesar’s things and those only, and the 
domain of God, as the supreme Arbiter of the con- 
science, is not to be invaded by any civil power what- 
ever. 

“Our Lord says again, My kingdom is not of this 
world ; if my kingdom were of this world, then would 
my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to 
the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence . 2 
Our Lord’s kingdom is wholly a spiritual kingdom, so 

1 Matt* 22: 21. 2' John IS: a<>. 


218 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


far, I mean, as to leaning upon the law is concerned. 
In extending the Redeemer’s kingdom it should ever be 
remembered that the weapons of our warfare are not 
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down 
of strongholds . 1 The religion of Christ needs no carnal 
weapons and it cannot be spread by their use. This 
plan proposed, of putting the name of Christ in the 
Constitution, would be an appeal to a carnal weapon. 
It would give to the religion of Christ an advantage 
over every other, and, by implication, would place the 
nation against every religious belief except Christian- 
ity. This would pave the way for a change in the 
nation’s religion if the advocates of any other religious 
system should ever become strong enough to secure the 
change.” 

“It seems to me, Dr. Prescott, that you push your 
logical conclusions too far. Do you not think the lib- 
erty-loving Americans could be trusted on the ques- 
tion of religious freedom, while yet we honor our 
Redeemer in this national way ? ” 

“If any people in the world could be trusted with 
this priceless boon, the American people can. But 
if your plan succeeds and the nation recognizes Christ, 
our religions liberty ends, and we have only religious 
toleration.” 

“Let me assure you,” said the lecturer, “that I and 
all who are favorable to this movement are the strong- 
est possible advocates of religious freedom, and of the 
entire separation between the civil powers and re- 
ligion.” 

“Yet, as I see the matter, you would in this 
instance take the initiative Step in the union of church 
and state, or of religion arid government.” 

1 2 Cor. 10: 4. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


219 


“I am sure I have no such intention as that,” pro- 
tested the lecturer. 

“Are you familiar with the history of this question 
of religious liberty ? ” asked Dr. Prescott. 

“I have looked into the matter somewhat care- 
fully, but have never thought of religious libert}^ being 
the least endangered by this movement of which I 
spoke last evening,” replied the lecturer. 

“When you place the name of Christ in the Consti- 
tution of the United States you destroy religious free- 
dom, and all other religions may or may not be toler- 
ated, as the powers in authority may decide.” 

“My dear sir, you greatly surprise me,” exclaimed 
the Judge. “Who would ever have imagined that all 
this must follow ? ” 

“I only state facts, Judge. If the company will 
bear with me I will give you something of the history 
of this blessed boon of religious liberty. To do this it 
will be necessary to give some prominence to the relig- 
ious body to which I have the honor of belonging. ‘I 
expressly disclaim casting odium on any now living, or 
holding them responsible for what those of their faith 
have done in past ages. Should not friends of all other 
denominations, and of no denomination, be willing to 
know the truth, and to give our fathers credit for what 
they achieved ? Religious freedom now generally pre- 
vails. All in our land rejoice and would not have it 
otherwise. 1 ’ Should not all be willing to give the meed 
of praise to that religious people who secured this rich 
blessing ? ” 

“It would seem that everyone ought to honor 
those who were instrumental in securing religious free- 
dom for this country,” replied the lecturer. 

1 “Baptist Pamphlets,” C, 2, p. (5, (J. B. Taylor. 


220 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“I would accord all deserved honor,” continued Dr. 
Prescott, “to the great reformers who stood up so 
nobly against the errors of Romanism for some of the 
great truths of the Bible which they so zealously advo- 
cated. I would honor every individual who suffered in 
the dark ages for any truth of God’s word — Arnold 
of Brescia, John Huss, Jerome of Prague, John Wick- 
liffe, and many others, whose names might be men- 
tioned. But all through the' ages there are traces of a 
sect every where spoken against, whose struggles and 
sufferings for this truth demand our consideration. 

“In Great Britain, Holland and Germany, in the 
poetic rallies of Piedmont, in the Alpine fastnesses 
of Italy the altar fires of our holy religion burned with 
undimmed lustre during the centuries. Surrounded by 
these mountain bulwarks, these faithful witnesses 
of Jesus raised their songs of high sounding praises to 
their Redeemer, and preached in rustic strains the same 
glad tidings which were announced to the shepherds 
upon the plains of Bethlehem . 1 In this persecuted peo- 
ple may he found the light -house of the world, erected 
upon the Rock of Eternal Ages, and casting its beams 
of heavenly light far over the stormy seas of moral 
darkness while the multitudes of mankind were won- 
dering after the beast. - 

“These faithful witnesses of Christ have earnestly 
contended for this blessed truth of religious freedom' 
of which wc have been speaking. It has been dearer to 
them than life itself, and they have heroically sub- 
mitted to the most cruel forms of death rather than 
renounce this and their other principles. Through 
their sufferings and struggles these principles have 
wielded a mighty influence in our nation. For these 

1 Ray’s “Bap. Succession,” p. ir>2. 


Bap. Succession,” p. ill. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


221 


cherished truths they have suffered bitter persecution 
and cruel tortures. But this is not astonishing since 
wicked men mocked and reviled the Lord himself, 
placed a crown of thorns upon his brow and led him to 
a cruel death. If they have called the Master of the 
house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them 
of his household ? 1 

“As far as the history of this people may be traced, 
it is a record of cruel persecutions for conscience’ sake, 
for fidelity to principle. ‘The denunciations of adver- 
saries, the testimony of indictments, commitments, 
trials, condemnations, decrees, bulls, edicts, formulas 
of faith, and the martyr confession of thousands, 
trace, in great red lines of blood, the truths of our 
faith, and mark a history, not of primates and power, 
and patronage, but of the Apostolic privileges of piety, 
poverty and persecution. Their memory and their 
faith are invested with a sublime heroism .’ 2 

“The historian, Froude, says, of this people in the 
Netherlands, ‘On them the laws of the country might 
take their natural course and no voice was raised to 
speak for them. For them no Europe was agitated; no 
courts were ordered into mourning; no royal hearts 
trembled with indignation. At their deaths the world 
looked on complacently, indifferently or exultingly. 
For them history has no word of praise. 3 ’ ’’ 

“But, sir, do you not claim a monopoly of suffering 
for your people?” asked the lecturer. “Have not all 
religious communions suffered persecution at different 
times ? ” 

“They have all thus suffered. Others have suffered 
because of their difference from the party in power, this 
people have suffered at the hands of all others because 

1 Matt. 10: 25. 2 “Bap. Pamphlets,” C, No. 5, pp. 4 , 5 ancltt. p. 7. 


222 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


of their principles in holding that it is contrary to the 
spirit of religion to use civil power in compelling 
belief of the gospel. ‘They have been severely perse- 
cuted for their religious views, and endured for long 
ages prescriptions of fines, prisons, banishments, tor- 
ture and death. The number of their martyrs is 
. reckoned by tens of thousands. The earliest martyrs 
of the Reformation were of our people. And multitudes 
before that time had sealed their faith with their 
blood. 1 ’ 

“One of the great truths for which, through the 
ages, they have suffered, is this blessed, heaven -given, 
truth of religious freedom, which today is enjoyed in its 
fullness in no other nation on the green earth except 
the United States. For this priceless boon the Ameri- 
can people are indebted solely to the struggles and 
triumphs of the sect everywhere spoken against . 2 For 
this divine principle their ‘bones now bleach in Alpine 
valleys and amidst the eternal snows of the moun- 
tains. For it their ashes have flitted on the wings 
of fitful winds around the pavements of Smithfield, and 
their voices have made the dungeons of Lollard’s 
Tower echo at midnight with martyr praises. 3 ’ ” 

“That is a very high claim you make,’’ said the 
lecturer. “Do you mean to assert that the honor 
of securing this priceless boon of liberty of conscience 
belongs exclusively to your religious connection ? I am 
sure every religious body of America holds to liberty 
of conscience as strongly as } r ou possibly can.” 

“I have already asserted,’’ replied the pastor, “that 
religious liberty is now embraced by every religious 
body in America, except the Catholics. But that it 

1 Bap. Pamphlets,” C., No. 5, p. 7. .2 Acts 28: 22. a Doctrinal Sermon, 

Thomas Armitage, D. D. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


223 


was secured by our people for this country I think 
is quite clear. I here appeal to the impartial testimony 
of histon^, or that of unsympathetic authors. 

“Dr. Price, in his history of Protestant Noncon- 
formity , 1 says, ‘It belongs to the members of a calum- 
niated and despised sect, few in numbers and poor in 
circumstances, to bring forth to public view, in their 
simplicity and omnipotence, those immortal principles 
which are now recognized as of divine authority and 
of universal obligation. Other writers of more distin- 
guished name succeeded and robbed them of their 
honor; but their title is so good, and the amount 
of service they performed on behalf of the common 
interests of humanity is so incalculable, that an impar- 
tial posterity must assign to them their due meed 
of praise. 2 ’ 

“Have you Bancroft’s History ? ” the pastor asked 
of Mr. Ashton. 

The book was handed him by Julia, and from it he 
read these words, remarking that the author was a 
member of another religious body : 

“‘Freedom of conscience, unlimited freedom of 
mind, was, from the first, a trophy of the Baptists. 3 ’ 

“Dr. Foot, the Presbyterian historian, says, of relig- 
ious liberty ; ‘This liberty was not the offspring of mere 
greatness of mind or of political sagacity. It was a 
child of principle, cradled in suffering, and fed on 
tears. 4 ’ 

“ ‘Religious liberty,’ says Joseph Belcher, ‘is a Bap- 
tist watchword, a kind of talisman, which operates 
like a charm, and nerves every man for action. Hence, 
in every age, their strong attachment to liberty, espec- 

1 Vol. I, p. .222. 2 Quoted by Bitting, “Bap. Pam.,” (’., No. 5, p. U. 

3 Ibid, p. 11. 4 Ibid, p. 16. 


224 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


ially religious liberty ; these principles they were the 
first to proclaim, and the first also to exemplify. Their 
principles have subjected them to persecution from age 
to age, and to such principles they have counted it 
a glory to be martyrs. Though their own blood has 
flowed freely, they have never shed the blood of others.’ 
I read these words as quoted by D. B. Ray, in this, his 
book on Baptist Succession. 1 

“From the same book I read other collated testi- 
mony. The German philosopher, Gervinus, sa} r s, 
of these principles of religious liberty ; ‘Not only have 
these ideas and these forms of government maintained 
themselves here, but precisely from this little State 2 
have they extended themselves throughout the United 
States. They have conquered the aristocratic ten- 
dencies in Carolina and New York, the high church in 
Virginia, the Theocracy in Massachusetts, and the 
monarchy in all America. They have given laws to a 
continent, and, formidable through their moral influ- 
ence, the\ T lie at the bottom of all the democratic move- 
ments which are now shaking the nations of Europe. 3 

“From the very first this people made earnest and 
determined efforts to secure full liberty to worship God 
according to the leadings of conscience. They plead 
for perfect religious liberty for all. In the first Conti- 
nental Congress, held in Philadelphia, in 1774, they 
sent their messengers to memorialize Congress by 
beseeching that bod}' to ‘secure at once the recognition 
of the inalienable rights of conscience .’ Though 
nothing could then be accomplished, they succeeded in 
securing the following resolution as given b} r Mr. 
Curtis : 

“ ‘In Provincial Congress, December 9, 1774. On 


1 “Bap. Sue.,” p. 228. 


8 “Bap. Sue.,” p. ‘225. 


2 Rhode Island. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


225 


reading the memorial of Rev. Isaac Backus, agent 
of the Baptist churches in this government; Resolved , 
That the establishment of civil and religious liberty to 
each denomination in the province, is the sincere wish 
of this Congress ; but being, bj^ no means, vested with 
powers of civil government, whereby they can redress 
the grievances of any person whatsoever, they, there- 
fore, recommend to the Baptist churches, that when a 
general assembly shall be convened in this colony, they 
lay the real grievances of said churches before the 
same; when and where their petition will most cer- 
tainly meet with that attention due to the memorial 
of a denomination of Christians so well disposed to the 
weal of their country. By order of the Congress. 
John Hancock, President. 1 ’ 

“At the next session of the Legislature of Massa- 
chusetts this same people presented the following 
memorial ; ‘Our real grievances are, that we, as well as 
our fathers, have, from time to time, been taxed, on 
religious accounts, where we were not represented, and 
our causes have been tried by interested judges. For a 
civil Legislature to impose religious taxes , is, we con- 
ceive, a power which their constituents never had to 
give , and is, therefore , going entirely out of their juris- 
diction. We are persuaded that an entire freedom 
from being taxed by civil rulers for religious worship is 
not a mere favor from any man or men in the world, 
but a right and property granted us by God, who com- 
mands us to stand fast in it. We .should wrong our 
consciences by allowing that power to men which we 
believe belongs only to God.’ 

“The providence of God was preparing another 
mind for aiding this general effort with suggestions 

1 Bap. Hue.,” pp. 2*27. 228. 


226 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


and for exerting a yet wider influence. Dr. Fishback 
gives the following as received personally from Mr. 
Tribble. There was a Baptist church near Monticello, 
which Mr. Jefferson frequently attended, and of which 
Rev. Andrew Tribble was pastor. On one occasion 
Mr. Jefferson invited this pastor home with him, and 
said to him in reference to our church polity, ‘that he 
considered it the only form of pure democracy that 
then existed in the world, and had concluded that it 
would be the best plan of government for the American 
colonies. This was several years before the Declara- 
tion of Independence. 1 It is at an3' rate certain that he 
espoused the cause of our people in their struggle for 
liberty of conscience. This same great Statesman drew 
up the ‘Act for Establishing Religious Freedom,’ 
which was adopted December 17th, 1785, and which 
secured religious liberty for every inhabitant in Vir- 
ginia.” 

‘‘My dear sir, you are making out a strong case! ” 
exclaimed the Judge, rubbing his hands. “But why 
recall these facts ? ” 

‘‘I do it, Judge, to show the great cost of this prin- 
ciple, and the need of guarding it most faithfully. Eter- 
nal vigilance is the price of liberty. In the light of these 
facts of history we are admonished to set ourselves 
against everything which threatens to destroy this lib- 
erty. We should resist ‘the beginnings’ of such a mis- 
fortune. I think the proposed insertion of Christ in the 
Constitution is one of these beginnings.” 

1 “Bap. Pamphlets,” 0., No. 5, pp. G2, (*}. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


227 


CHAPTER XIX. 


TOLERATION NOT FREEDOM. 


“Freedom has a thousand charms to show, 

That slaves, however contented, never know.” 

— Cowpek. 

“To go on with ray story,” continued Dr. Prescott, 
“I would have each one of you bear in mind that this 
was a struggle not merely for religious toleration 
(that is enjoyed in England today, and in other 
nations), but our people went further and contended 
for, and secured, • absolute religious freedom, or the 
recognition of the principle that civil rulers have no 
right to tax for, or otherwise maintain, any form 
of religious belief. This is far different from the relig- 
ious toleration of England. There, all denominations 
of Christians are tolerated, that is, all are allowed to 
worship God according to the dictates of their con- 
sciences, after the} r have paid their religious tax for the 
support of the established church. Until they have 
done that, their property is liable to be sold for taxes. 
All are tolerated. Only the Episcopal faith is recog- 
nized as latvful and all citizens, of whatever faith, must 
be taxed to support its ministry and services. In 
America alone is the principle recognized that there 
must be a sharp line of distinction drawn between the 
things of Caesar and the things of God, and the two 


228 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


are never to be blended and intermingled. There is not 
the slightest necessity for any clashing between the 
claims of these two sets of duties ; for religion never 
interferes with the duties and deference due to civil 
magistrates, unless the magistrates attempt to invade 
the domain of religion and seek to tyrannize over the 
consciences of men. The proper sphere of the kingdom 
of our Savior is to deal with the spiritual, while that 
of civil government is to deal with the temporal. To 
God alone are men responsible for their religious views 
and service. To enter this holy of holies and dictate 
what doctrines must be believed and what doctrines 
must be rejedled will be regarded by the Almighty as 
highly irreverent and as criminal as it was, during the 
standing of the temple, for any one to enter the holy 
of holies where the glorious Sheehinah dwelt. 

“Our people continued to plead this cause of relig- 
ious freedom before Legislatures and Congress and 
were never contented until ‘the Constitution of the 
United States, as adopted in 1787, had one article 
referring to religion. 1 ’ That is Article VI, and reads 
thus: ‘No religious test shall ever be required as a 
qualification for any office or public trust in the United 
States.’ And fearing that even this article did not suf- 
ficiently guard this priceless boon of soul liberty, this 
people discussed the matter, and, by constant memor- 
ials, secured at last the adoption of the first amend- 
ment to our national Constitution, which reads: ‘Con- 
gress shall make no law respecting an establishment 
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ 

“Now, my friends, I propose to make another high 
claim. As a denomination, our people stood alone in 
this conflict for religious liberty.” 

1 Tract by Dr. J. L. M. Curry, p. 59. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


229 


“Hold, sir ! ’’ exclaimed the lecturer. “Is it not pre- 
sumptuous in you to make such a claim as that ? You 
must surely be aware that there were many Pres- 
byterians and others who participated in this con- 
flidt.” 

“I do not mean to be presumptuous, and present 
none of these facts for the purpose of boasting,” replied 
the pastor, “but simply that the truth of histor}' may 
be vindicated. In the very crisis of the cause of liberty 
of conscience our fathers stood unsupported by any 
other religious communion. ‘They won. Individuals 
from other communions and from the people then 
rallied with them. 1 ’ Now, that the victory is won, 
others are claiming a share in its honors. Ido not at 
all doubt the ardent devotion of all other religious 
communions to the cause of religious freedom. But let 
us open the pages of history and see if my claim is pre- 
sumptuous.” 

“Please remember the grand work of Lord Balti- 
more in this direction,” exclaimed the ledturer, “and 
remember he was a Roman Catholic.” 

“Very well, let us see what he did. It is freely 
admitted that he was remarkably liberal for a Roman 
Catholic, but Lord Baltimore did not claim anything 
more than the establishment of religious toleration. 
His law was called an “Act of Toleration,’ and it was 
only a limited toleration at that. Only those were to 
be tolerated in Maryland who did not blaspheme God, 
deny Jesus Christ, and the Trinity, or reproach the Vir- 
gin Mary and the holy Apostles. Those who violated 
any of these requirements were to be subjected to pains 
and penalties. 

“But look at the history of Romanism, to which 

1 **Bap. Pamphlets.” C., No. 5, p. 50. 


230 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Lord Baltimore belonged. What is her record as to 
religious freedom ? Has she ever issued from her seven 
hilled seat permission to every man to worship God 
according to the dictates of conscience? Alas! no. 
‘Her past is reeking with the gore of slaughtered 
millions. While huge volumes live to recount her mur- 
derous hate of the godly, much can never be recovered 
and never was recorded. No Jesuitism can remove the 
horrid stains bv which every page of her history is 
crimsoned. No language can too indignantly express 
righteous detestation of actual Romish enormities. 1 ’ 

“Pius IX, in his Encyclical Letter of August 15, 
1858, said; ‘The absurd and erroneous doctrines or rav- 
ings in defense of liberty of conscience are a most pesti- 
lential error — a pest, of all others to be dreaded in 
a State.’ He anathematized ‘Those who assert the 
liberty of conscience and of religious worship,’ also ‘all 
such as maintain that the Church may not employ 
force.’ The Rambler , a Catholic organ of London, 
sa}^s ; ‘Religious liberty, in the sense of liberty pos- 
sessed by every man, to choose his own religion, is one 
of the most wicked delusions ever foisted upon this age 
by the father of all deceit. * * * No man has a right 
to choose his religion. * * * Shall I hold out hopes 
to my erring Protestant brother, that I will not med- 
dle with his creed if he will not meddle with mine ? 
Shall I tempt him to forget that he has no more right 
to his religious views than he has to my purse, to my 
house, or to my life blood ? No, Catholicism is the 
most intolerant of creeds. It is intolerance itself; for 
it is the truth itself. 2 ’ Such is the candid avowal 
of Romanism, and her history amply confirms the 
avowal.” 

1 “Bap. Pam.” C, No. 5, p. 35. 2 “Our Country,” by Dr. Josiah Strong, pp. 17, 18. 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


231 


“But, sir, how stands the case with Episcopacy?” 
asked Mr. Dixon. “Has she no friendly voice to lift up 
in defense of the rights of conscience ? ” 

“Let her past record answer your question. We 
are told that, ‘Episcopacy kindled her fires in Smith- 
field and burned those who conformed not to her faith. 
The record is long and bloody, and generally developed 
in English history in numerous instances of sufferings 
and death for religious convictions. Episcopacy had 
its Inquisition to try, persecute and kill heretics, regu- 
larly commissioned in 1547.’ ‘Under these Protestant 
Inquisitors, the prisons of the kingdom teemed with 
those incarcerated for conscience, and their groans 
mingled with the creaking of engines of torture all over 
the land. 1 ’ Even in this nineteenth century, only a few 
years ago, an English redtor wrote these words; ‘It is 
surely the duty of Christian States. to deprive excom- 
municated persons of every social right and privilege, 
or even, if they' so judge, to sweep them from the 
earth: ” 

Somewhat excited the lecturer exclaimed : 

“Well, what of tjie Reformers of the sixteenth cen- 
tury ? They must certainly have imbibed and defended 
the doctrine of freedom of conscience. It is said that 
‘Luther blew the horn of religious liberty,’ and he and 
his co-workers must surely have held to this doc- 
trine.” 

“Luther and his friends did a grand work,” replied 
Dr. Prescott. “But none of them seem to have at- 
tained to any proper conception of religious freedom. 
Underhill, the historian, says ; ‘There is not a single 
confession of faith, nor a creed framed by any of the 
reformers, which does not give the magistrates co- 

1 “Bap. Pamphlets,” C., No. 5, pp. 20, 21. 


232 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


ercive power in religion, and almost every one at 
the same time curses the resisting Baptists.’ ‘Not a 
reformer of any eminence can be mentioned which 
did not take part in the crusade : Luther, Melandthon, 
Zwingle, Bucer, Bullinger, Calvin, Knox and many 
more. Whether our people were confounded in dis- 
putation or not, the burden of the song is always, 
that, at the least, the magistrates exerted their 
authorit}^. 1 ’ ‘ The right of reading the Scriptures 

and judging for oneself was professed b\ r the reformers, 
but their practical denial of it is written in the blood 
of Baptists. 2 ’ 

“In a letter to Menius and Myconius, in 1530, 
Luther says ; ‘I am pleased that you intend to write a 
letter against the Anabaptists as soon as possible. 
Since they are not only blasphemous, but also seditious 
men, let the sword exercise its right over them; for 
this is the will of God that he shall have judgment who 
resisteth the power. 3 ’ Zwingle declared that whoever 
submitted to immersion after having been sprinkled 
should be drowned.’ The law of Zurich, 1530, orders 
death to the Baptists, and M^landthon, Luther’s 
co-laborer, in a letter to the diet of Hamburg, 1537, 
advised death by the sword as the punishment for 
Baptists. 4 ’ 

“John Calvin, the father of Presbyterianism, wrote 
this, ‘Godly princes may lawfully issue edicts for com- 
pelling obstinate and rebellious persons to worship the 
true God, and to maintain the unity of the faith.’ His 
principles were illustrated and enforced in the case 
of Michael Servetus, who was recognized in Calvin’s 
church, and through Calvin’s instrumentality was 

1 ‘ Bap. Pain.” C, No. 5, p. 17. 2 I dd, p. 18 8 Ibid, p. 21. 

4 Ibid, p. 25. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


233 


burnt as a heretic, October 27, 1553, suffering a terri- 
ble death, and fulfilling the awful threat of Calvin him- 
self, ‘If he conies to Geneva, and my authority avails 
anything I will never suffer him to go away alive. 1 ’ ” 

“But, sir!” exclaimed the lecturer, “You should 
bear in mind that Servctus was a heretic, and denied 
the doctrine of the Trinity. He was a base errorist.” 

“It is true that Servetus is said to have been a 
heretic, but for his religious views he was responsible 
to God alone, and not to Calvin.” 

“That’s true, my dear sir!” exclaimed the Judge. 
“That’s true. Servetus was responsible to God alone ; 
but he had no business being such a blockhcaded 
heretic.” 

“Such questions, Judge, we must leave to God. I 
do not mention the.se facts to give offence, but, as 
before stated, to show you the cost of religious liberty. 
You may investigate these things for yourselves, for 
‘this thing was not done in a corner,’ but is spread 
upon the history of the American colonies, and all may 
read. If the company will bear with me a little longer, 
I wish to give a few instances of the sufferings of our 
people in violation of the principles of religious lib- 
erty.” 

“We will hear you longer, sir, if you wish to pro- 
ceed,” said the lecturer, “for I have become interested 
in your narrative.” 

“Bitterly persecuted in Europe, our people sought 
an asylum in America, where they might worship God 
according to the dictates of couscienee, but here, upon 
the soil of the New World, the idea of enforced faith 
upon the part of all other communions manifested 
itself. Romanism and Episcopacy were alternately the 

1 “Bap. Pamphlets,” C, No. 5, p. 24. 


234 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


established religion in Maryland for many years fol- 
lowing 1660. Whichever was predominant our people 
came in for a special compliment in the way of persecu- 
tion. Refusal to have children christened was made a 
grievous offence and was heavily fined. 1 

“In North and South Carolina, in 1669, Episco- 
pacy was declared ‘the only true and orthodox relig- 
ion, was made the State religion, and was maintained 
from the State treasury by taxation. The law de- 
manded a compulsory profession at seventeen years 
of age. 1 ’ 

“The charter of Virginia, in 1606, established 
Episcopacy as the exclusive system of the State. Under 
that charter many oppressive laws were passed. One, 
in 1611, required every person in the colon}' to go 
to the Episcopal minister and give an account of his 
religious views. For the first refusal he was to be 
whipped ; for the second, whipped twice; for the third, 
whipped ever}' day until he would go to confession. 
None could preach or legally meet for services except 
Episcopalians. Nonconformists, or all except those 
who would submit to Episcopacy, were 'to be fined, 
imprisoned or banished. Two thousand pounds of to- 
bacco was the fine for refusing to have a child 
christened,, and everyone must be married or buried 
by the parson of the parish. Our ministers were 
arrested, imprisoned, fined and whipped for preach- 
ing the gospel. Many such laws may be found 
by reference to Henning’s Statutes at Large of Vir- 
ginia. Such was the attitude of every establish- 
ment in all the colonies toward those who would not 
conform. 

“I desire to read you an extract concerning an inei- 

1 “Bap. Pamphlets,” C., No. 5, p 41. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


235 


dent mentioned in several histories, reminding you 
of Paul’s significant question, “Who art thou that 
judgest another man’s servant? To his own Master 
he standeth or falleth , 1 and of the charge made against 
Paul, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God con- 
trary to the law , 2 and against the Apostles again, 
These all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying 
that there is another king, -one Jesus . 8 

“Three Baptist preachers were brought to trial for 
preaching in Virginia. The indictment brought against 
them was, ‘For preaching the gospel of the Son of God, 
contrary to the statute in that case provided, and 
therefore disturbers of the peace.’ The clerk was read- 
ing the indictment in a slow and formal manner, and 
he pronounced the crime with emphasis, ‘ For preach- 
ing the gospel of the Son of God,' when a plain -dressed 
man dismounted his horse, entered the court house, 
and took his seat within the bar. He was known to 
the court and lawyers, but a stranger to the mass 
of spectators who had gathered on the occasion. This 
was Patrick Henry, who, on hearing of this prosecu- 
tion, had ridden some fifty or sixty miles from his resi- 
dence in Hanover county to volunteer his services 
in the defence of the prisoners. He listened to the 
further reading of the indictment with marked atten- 
tion, the first sentence of which, that had caught his 
ear, was, ‘For preaching the gospel of the Son of God.’ 
When the indictment had been read, and the pros- 
ecuting attorney had submitted a few remarks, Henry 
arose, stretched out his hand and received the paper, 
and then addressed the court : 

“‘May it please your worships: I think I heard 
read by the prosecutor as I entered this house, the 

1 Romans 14: 4. 2 Acts 18: 13. o Acts 17 : 7. 


236 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


paper I now hold in my hand. If I have rightly under- 
stood, the king’s attorney of this colony has framed an 
indictment for the purpose of arraigning and punish- 
ment, by imprisonment, three inoffensive persons 
before the bar of this court, for a crime of great magni- 
tude — as disturbers of the peace. May it please the 
court, what did I hear read ? Did I hear it distinctly, 
or was it a mistake of my own ? Did I hear an expres- 
sion, as if a crime, that these men, whom your wor- 
ships are about to try for a misdemeanor, are charged 
with — what! ’ and continuing in a low, solemn, heavy 
tone: ‘For preaching the gospel of the Son of God!’ 
Pausing amidst the most profound silence and breath- 
less astonishment of his hearers, he slowly waved the 
paper three times around his head, then, lifting up 
his hands and eyes to heaven, with extraordinary and 
impressive energy, he exclaimed, ‘Great God!’ The 
exclamation — the action — the burst of feeling from the 
audience were all overpowering. Mr. Henry resumed : 

“May it please your worships: In a day like this, 
when truth is about to burst her fetters ; when man- 
kind are about to be raised to claim their natural and 
inalienable rights ; when the yoke of oppression which 
has reached the wilderness of America, and the unnat- 
ural alliance of ecclesiastical and civil power is about 
to be dissevered, at such a period, when liberty — lib- 
erty of conscience — is about to awake from her slum- 
berings and inquire into the reason of such charges 
as I find exhibited here today in this indictment ! ’ 
Another fearful pause, while the speaker alternately 
cast his sharp, piercing eyes on the court and the pris- 
oners, and resumed: ‘If I am not deceived, according 
to the contents of the paper I now hold in my hands, 
these men are accused of “preaching the gospel of the 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


237 


Son of God. — ” Great God!’ Another long pause, 
during which he again waved the indictment around 
his head, while a deeper impression was made on the 
auditory. Resuming his speech: ‘May it please your 
worships; there are periods in the history of man, 
when corruption and depravity have so long debased 
the human character, that man sinks under the weight 
of the oppressor’s hand and becomes his servile — his 
abject slave ; he licks the hand that smites him ; he 
bows in passive obedience to the mandates of the 
despot, and in this state of servility he receives his fet- 
ters of perpetual bondage. But, may it please } r our 
worships, such a day has passed away! From the 
period when our fathers left the land of their nativity 
for settlement in these American wilds — for Liberty — 
for civil and religious liberty — for liberty of con- 
science — to worship their creator according to their 
conceptions of Heaven’s revealed will, — from the mo- 
ment they placed their feet on the American continent, 
and in the deeply imbedded forests sought an asylum 
from persecution and tyranny — from that moment 
despotism was crushed ; her fetters of darkness were 
broken, and Heaven decreed that man should be 
free — free to worship God according to the Bible. 
Were it not for this, in vain have been the efforts and 
sacrifices of the colonists ; in vain were all their suffer- 
ings and bloodshed to subjugate this new world, if we, 
their offspring, must still be oppressed and persecuted. 
But, may it please your worships, permit me to inquire 
once more : For what are these men about to be tried ? 
This paper sa3 r s, “for preaching the gospel of the Son 
of God.’’ Great God! For preaching the Savior to 
Adam’s fallen race.’ 

“After another pause, in tones of thunder, he in- 


238 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


quired: ‘What law have they violated?’ Then, 
for the third time, in a slow dignified manner, he lifted 
his eyes to heaven, and waved the indictment around 
his head. The court and audience were now wrought 
up to the most intense pitch of excitement. The face 
of the prosecuting attorney was pale and ghastly, and 
he appeared unconscious that his whole frame was 
agitated with alarm ; and the judge, in a tremulous 
voice, put an end to the scene, now becoming extremely 
painful, by the authoritative command : 'Sheriff, dis- 
charge those men! 1 ' ” 

The reading of this extract deeply impressed the 
company. Dr. Prescott apologized for occupying so 
large a portion of the time and attention of the group 
of friends. The lecturer, still unwilling to yield to the 
force of such an overwhelming array of facts, said : 

“Your people have doubtless made a virtue of ne- 
cessity, and advocated these views of liberty of con- 
science because you have always been in the minority. 
Don’t you suppose, that, if you had ever had the 
power, you too would have been as intolerant as anv 
other religious body ? Any body of Christians placed 
in power is liable to be intolerant.’’ 

“We do not claim that human nature is any better 
among us than among others. All we claim is that we 
have always had a clearer conception of this truth 
of the Bible than others, having never consented to 
Constantine’s alliance of Christianity with the govern- 
ment, which would have obscured our vision of this 
truth, and, that, holding this truth, we could never 
persecute without ceasing to be Baptists. But here 
again we have the unquestioned voice of history in our 
defence. If you will bear with me I will mention scv- 

1 Belcher’s “Religious Denominations.” pp. 161-165. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


239 


eral facts of history upon this point. When the estab- 
lishment was about to be broken up in Virginia, more 
than a century ago, a General Assessment bill was pro- 
posed, by which every one would be required to pay a 
religious^tax, but would be allowed to designate which 
denomination should receive his tax. This General 
Assessment bill was quite satisfactory to the Pres- 
byterians, as the records of the Hanover Presbytery 
will show. Up to this point they nobly stood by the 
Baptists in attempting to put down the establishment, 
but, when this bill was proposed, they forsook the 
Baptists, and expressed themselves as quite willing to 
take their share of the religious tax, along with others, 
from the public treasury. The Baptists would also 
have had an equal chance with others, but they pro- 
tested so vigorously in their convocations, and so 
beseiged the Assembly with mmemorials, that the col- 
lection of religious taxes was suspended and in the next 
\ r ear (1779) an act was passed repealing all laws 
authorizing the collection of taxes for the support 
of the clergy. 1 In 1784 the General Assessment bill 
was overwhelmingly defeated, largely through the in- 
fluence of our people. 

“In Georgia, in 1785, a law for the establishment 
and support of religion was actually passed, through 
the influence of Episcopalians. It embraced all denom- 
inations and gave all equal privileges; but the very 
same year, the Baptists remonstrated against it, sent 
two messengers to the legislature, and it was promptly 
repealed. In both ministers and members they were 
the most numerous denomination ; and their ministers 
might have lived on the public treasury and occupied 
every neighborhood, but they knew that Christ’s king- 

1 Tract by Dr. J. L. M. Curry, pp. M>, 47. 


240 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


dom is not of this world, and preferred to pine in pov- 
erty, as many of them did, rather than consent to the 
unholy alliance of religion and government. 

“In Holland, about the beginning of the present 
century, the king of that country, influenced largely by 
the history of Dutch Baptists, written by Ypeig and 
Dermont, offered the Baptists the patronage and sup- 
port of the government, and they declined the alliance 
— declined it on principle . 1 

“In these instances, and others that might be men- 
tioned, it is seen that, on principle, our people have 
ever declined, courteously but firmly, all power of com- 
pulsion in religion. My earnest devotion to the truth 
of religious freedom, in the light of its history, causes 
me to earnestty protest against the incorporation 
of the name of Christ in our Constitution, which yon 
so ably advocated. But I beg pardan for monopo- 
lizing the conversation this afternoon.” 

“You have made out a strong case, my dear sir! ” 
exclaimed the Judge. “I did not know our religious 
liberty had any' such history as you have given. I am 
proud of my ancestry, my dear sir. ” 

“I must candidly confess to you, sir,” said the 
lecturer, “that I am not now so clear as to the propri- 
ety of my enterprise. I shall not prosecute it further 
until I have given the whole matter thorough study.” 

“It seems to me,” said Dr. Prescott, “that many in 
this country need to give the matter an investigation. 
Many Protestants in our country and some of mv own 
people too, are insisting that it is right for the public 
authorities to require (not simply permit ) the reading 
of the Bible in the public schools.” 

“What! my dear sir, does that infringe on religious 

1 “Blip. Pamphlets,” C, No. 2, pp. 24, seq. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


241 


liberty?” asked the Judge. ‘‘I cannot see how that 
interferes with religious liberty.” 

“The public schools are maintained by taxa- 
tion, Judge. The people are taxed to support them. 
The people are Jews, unbelievers and Catholics. Shall 
the people who reject the New Testament be taxed 
to support schools where their children are required to 
read it ? Shall the Bible be forced upon the children 
of those who repudiate it ? Shall the Bible of Protes- 
tants be forced upon the children of Catholics? Requir- 
ing it is quite dilferent from permitting it. The Bible 
may be allowed read in public schools, where there 
is no objection, but not required .” 

‘T believe you are right, my dear sir. You have 
made out a good case, sir,” said the Judge. 

“Again, Roman Catholics are demanding a portion 
of the public school fund for the support of their pri- 
vate Catholic schools, on the ground that they object 
to the public .schools and yet are taxed for their sup- 
port. And some politicians are saying that the de- 
mand is a just one.” 

“Isn’t it fair and just to them, mv dear sir ? ” asked 
the Judge. “Should they not have their proportional 
share of the school fund ? ” 

“The public schools are open to them,” replied Dr. 
Prescott. “Let them patronize them as others do. 
If they refuse to do this, and it cannot be demanded 
of them, it is nevertheless an infringement of religious 
liberty to support to any extent, their sectarian 
schools. Other Christian communions might, with 
equal propriety, claim the same support for their 
schools, and so public funds would be diverted into 
denominational channels. Religion would be preying 
upon the pul die treasury. 


242 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“I am not so sure, moreover, that the custom 
of our State, count}^ and city governments in exempt- 
ing church property from taxation is in strict accord- 
ance with the requirements of absolute religious lib- 
erty. In this way the State, county and city treas- 
uries pay over to the various denominations millions 
of dollars annually. Magnificent cathedrals on valua- 
ble city lots, wealthy convents costing millions of dol- 
lars, Catholic hospitals and orphan asylums, and 
Protestant and Baptist institutions and costly church 
edifices, in their exemption from taxation, receive as a 
gift from the public treasury a sum equal to the 
amount of the taxes on such propertx^. This property 
being relieved, there is a corresponding increase in the 
taxes of individual property. So it seems to me, in 
this way, American people are still taxed for the sup- 
port of religion in this indirect but real way. I am not 
sure it is right.” 

When the company had all gone Julia seemed 
peculiarly distraught and depressed and said to her 
uncle : 

‘‘Dr. Prescott’s defense of himself and of his views 
was complete and triumphant, and I am sure he is 
right. But what troubles me most now is that there 
is just before me, in my view, such a sweet real life 
of faith and trust, and I cannot attain to it. It seems 
to be for others, but not for me.” 

‘‘My dear, the Lord Jesus is waiting even now to 
welcome you into his kingdom. You may have the 
blessing of life everlasting whenever you truly feel vour 
need of him and heartily accept of him as your Savior. 
In his own good time he will receive you. He is lead- 
ing you by a way you know not. Ask, and you shall 
receive ; seek and you shall find ; knock and it shall b e 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


243 


opened unto you, 1 ” said Mr. Ashton, as he noted with 
deep grief, his niece’s troubled expression. 

“For others and not for me,” and all the sup- 
pressed anguish of her heart found expression in the 
words; ‘‘Pray for me, uncle.” 

Thus their separation for the evening was one 
of mutual anxiety — the uncle’s tender solicitude for the 
young lady’s spiritual safety ; and the niece’s fear that 
she had crossed the boundary of God’s mercy, for there 
flashed into her mind the famous words of Alexander : 

“There is a time, we know not when; 

A place, we know not where, 

That seal* the destiny of man, 

To glory or despair.” 

1 Matt. 7:7. 


244 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER XX. 

AM I CHOSEN OR NOT? 

k *The melancholy clays ace come. 

The saddest of the year, 

Of walling winds and naked woods. 

And meadows brown and sear : 

Heaped in the hollows of the grove, 

The withered leaves lie dead.” 

— Bryant. 

October’s bright days are all gone and it is dreary 
November. Julia Ashton has grown paler and seems 
to be fading slowly as the year wanes. The roses have 
left her cheeks and lillies have taken their places. 

On a pleasant November afternoon she has wan- 
dered out to a rather secluded portion of the city and 
is sitting upon a moss-covered rock, watching the 
waters of the river pour over a rocky precipice into a 
frightful chasm below, from which clouds of mist and 
spray constantly arise. Her seat is near enough for 
her to feel the cool breath of the mist, and the hoarse 
voice of the waters has a soothing effect on her per- 
turbed spirits. The western sun pours a flood of 
golden light upon the cascade and rainbow colors arc 
flitting upon the rocky sides of the yawning chasm. 

A hand falls lightly upon her shoulder, a voice 
speaks at her side, which she hears above the roar 
of the waters: “A penny for your thoughts, Miss 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


245 


Julia.’’ Will Mortimer is by her side and speaks in his 
most pleasant tones. 

“Thank you, sir, they are not for sale. Why have 
you dared to intrude upon a lady’s solitude ? Can you 
not understand, Mr. Mortimer, that when I come to 
this sacred retreat I wish to be alone ? There are 
times when I would see no one but these leaping 
waters, and hear no sound but their hollow voice. 
Could you not permit me to enjoy their music undis- 
turbed ? ” 

“I have sought you, Julia, because your voice alone 
makes music in my soul. Your presence alone fills me 
with joy. You must have seen long since that you are 
dearer to me than my own life.” 

“You give me credit, Will, for a most astonishing 
intuition. I have indeed received many proofs of your 
friendship, and I esteem you as one of my best and 
truest friends. Let us turn our steps homeward, for 
however loth I am to leave this charming spot, I am 
quite weary.” 

“Julia, dear, I have resolved to know my fate here 
and now. It is not merely as a friend that I esteem 
you. You have taken hold upon my heart. Your 
image is forever enshrined there. I love you fervent- 
ly — passionately — and I ask if you cannot give me 
your love in return. Can you not make my life happy 
by your presence and love ? ” 

“To be candid with you, Will, I have noticed your 
growing esteem for me and have been looking into my 
own heart for its decision. While there is no one else 
for whom I have so high an esteem as for you there are 
inseparable barriers to a mutual love between us. You 
are a Christian and I am a perfect pagan, some- 
times filled with the wildest blasphemy and unbelief. 


246 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


How can there ever be any concord between the king- 
dom of Christ, of which you are a member and the 
kingdom of darkness to which I am bound in chains ? 
Then too, so many storms of anguish have rolled 
over me — storms of mental and physical suffering— 
that my heart seems to be benumbed so that it cannot 
feel. I have no heart to offer you, Will, in return 
for your love. Forget me, and go and find some 
Christian girl. Love her and make her happy and 
let her with y^ou ascend the heights of distinction 
which rises before you.” 

“Forget you, Julia Ashton! Then let this right 
hand forget its cunning. If ever your picture grows 
dim in my heart then may my tongue cleave to the 
roof of my mouth. I know that when your heart 
is reality awakened you will have a wealth of undying 
affection to lavish upon him whose image is enshrined 
there. I feel sure that you will become an earnest 
believer in our divine Savior. It seems to me that God 
is leading you through this dark way that he may 
save you. Julia, tell me that you love me. Let me 
now know my fate.” 

‘‘I have no heart, Will. I do not know that I love 
anything except my^ uncle and the sweet hoarse voice 
of these waters. You must permit time to reveal 
my own heart to me, if I have any. I have grown 
skeptical about everything.” 

“Permit me to place this ring upon your fin- 
ger, Julia, at any rate. It will remind you of me.” 

“I need no ring for that purpose. I can receive 
it upon one condition only, that is, that it is to mean 
nothing more than that you are my best gentleman 
friend.” 

His reply' was to place the plain heavy golden 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


247 


circlet upon her finger. After some moments’ silence 
she said with a deep sigh: 

“Do not you Christians believe that God chooses 
certain persons, whom he saves and leaves everybody 
else out unsaved ? I must be one of those unfortunate 
ones whom God passes by and leaves unsaved. I have 
almost concluded that I am not chosen. It is madden- 
ing to think that a blessed life of trust is just within 
my grasp, and I am held back by some invisible power 
so that I cannot lay hold upon it. This well nigh 
drives me to desperation ! Why, Oh, why am I not 
permitted to enter this path of truth and rest?” she 
said, communing with her own heart as much as 
addressing her companion, 

“You believe, Julia, that God’s Spirit influences the 
hearts of those who are saved, do you not ? The Holy 
Spirit was sent into the world to convince it of sin and 
of righteousness and of judgment to come, and to take 
of the things of Christ and show them to the soul.” 

‘‘Yes, Will, that is the clear and unmistakable 
language of the New Testament, and I could not call it 
in question.” 

“Then if you have any desire for salvation you 
may be sure that desire is produced by the presence 
of the Holy Spirit. For when he ceases to influence the 
heart there is then no desire for a better life and 
one becomes past feeling , 1 as one of the inspired 
w r iters declares . ” 

“What vou say, Will, is no doubt true, and it may 
all seem very plain to Christians ; but the whole thing 
is very dark to me. Does not the Bible say, of God, 
that he doeth according to his will in the armies 
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and 

1 Eph. 4: 19. 


248 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest 
thou 1 ? If he has not chosen me what is the use 
for me to make any further effort to be saved ? ” 

“You do not know that he has not chosen 
you, Julia. Secret things belong unto the Lord our 
God, but things that are revealed unto us . 2 Here 
is one revealed thing which belongs to you if you will 
accept it ; whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord 
shall be saved . 3 But it is growing late; let us return 
to Ashton Hall.” 

“Farewell, sweet waters!” she exclaimed. Your 
loud voice shuts out for the time the wretched discord 
of my own soul.” 

The chill evening was made quite genial by the 
ruddy glow of the fire in Mr. Ashton’s library. That 
gentleman was dozing in his eas\^ chair when his niece 
and her companion entered. Her pallor and emacia- 
tion startled Will as he saw her sink wearily upon 
a chair. “Surely,” he thought, “there is but a step 
between her and the spirit world. Her mind must 
be set at rest. Her uncle’?' rich experience of Bible 
truth is the agency to accomplish this result.” 

“Mr. Ashton, there are some questions I should like 
to ask you,” said Will. 

“Very well, Will, I am ready to help you if I can.” 

“I know, sir, that you can readily answer them 
from your full knowledge of the Scriptures. Do you 
think God’s choice of those who are saved is an eternal 
choice? May we not hold that he makes his choice 
after he sees that they will repent, or that they desire 
to repent and be saved ? ” 

“I do not think, Will, that there can be any doubt 
that whatever God purposes he purposed eternally. 

1 Dan. 4:35. 2 Deut. 29:29. 3 Rom. 10:13. 


FROM error’s chains. 249 

Otherwise he would be changeable. Here is what the 
Scriptures say. According as he hath chosen us in him 
before the foundation of the world, that we should be 
holy and without blame before him in love . 1 Who 
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not 
according to our works, but according to his own pur- 
pose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus 
before the world began . 2 These and other passages 
teach us that God’s choice is eternal and is not based 
upon any foreseen good works.” 

“That seems to be their meaning, sir, but do you 
not believe it is possible for God to change his choice as 
to some persons ? Is he not said to repent 3 of having 
made man for instance? May he not also repent 
of choosing some or of refusing to choose others? and 
so reverse his choice ? ” 

“T do not think so. He is said indeed to repent, 
but that is only the application to him of language 
suitable to man. His dealings with man seem some- 
times to indicate a change of his purpose when in 
reality there is no such change. We have these words ; 
God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs 
of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it 
by an oath . 4 For I am persuaded, says Paul, that 
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, 
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be 
able to separate us from the love of God, which is 
in Christ Jesus our Lord . 5 There is no such thing as a 
change of his choice, for he sees the end from the 
beginning.” 

“Of course, I did not mean to impute changable- 
ness to God, but there seem sometimes to be changes in 

lEph. 1:4. 2 2 Tim. 1 : 9. 3Gen.6:0. 4Het>.6:17. 5 Rom. 8: 38, 39. 


250 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


his dealings with men when men change. The divine 
word came to Hezekiah when he was sick to set 
his house in order for he should die and not live. But 
he prayed earnestly to the Lord and the Lord changed 
his purpo.se and spared the life of the pious king for 
fifteen years. Possibly he might likewise change his 
choice or purpose concerning certain persons who 
repent.” 

“He says, I am the Lord, I change not, 1 ” replied 
Mr. Ashton. 

“But, sir,” remember the case of Ninevah. God 
commanded his prophet to go to this great and wicked 
city, and to say to the inhabitants, Yet forty days, 
and Ninevah shall be overthrown . 2 Rather this is 
to be inferred, for he commanded Jonah to preach unto 
it the preaching that he bade him , 8 and this was what 
he said in obedience to that command. But when the 
king and people heard the prophet’s proclamation they 
humbled themselves and repented in sackcloth and 
ashes, and the Lord spared the city because of this sin- 
cere repentance of the people. This seems to me to 
indicate a change of God’s purpose, and it made the 
prophet angry, because his word failed to be accom- 
plished.” 

“The change is only apparent,” Will, replied Mr. 
Ashton, “for God purposed to spare the city and 
used the prophet’s message and the penitence of the 
people to accomplish his purpose.” 

“There is another question then which I wish 
to ask you, Mr. Ashton. Do you think the choice 
of God which is spoken of, is or was a choosing of per- 
sons, individuals , or merely a choice of that class 
of persons whom he foresaw would freely accept of his 

1 Mai. 3: tt. 2 Jonah 3: 4. 3 Jonah 3: 2. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


251 


mercy ? Men and women are free moral agents and it 
cannot be known what course of conduct any one will 
pursue. May we not understand that God’s choice 
embraced only this, a determination to save only such 
as would repent and believe ? ” 

“From the human side, Will, that is true. God’s 
word stands pledged to save all who will accept of his 
terms of salvation, and I am just as sure that he 
will fulfil his word as I am that I live. But why 
is it that some will believe and others will not ; that 
some accept of salvation and others persistently reject 
it ? Is it because God has chosen some and passed by 
others ; because he has given to some the disposition 
and ability to believe and be saved, and withheld that 
disposition from others? These words are used, 
For the children being not yet born, neither having 
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, 
according to election might stand, not of works, 
but of him that calletli ; it was said unto Rebecca, The 
elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob 
have I loved, but Esau have I hated . 1 Here the choice 
is distinctly declared to be a choice of persons, anid 
that not because of anything good seen in the one 
chosen. But, we read again, we are bound to give 
thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the 
Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you 
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and 
belief of the truth . 2 These were persons chosen by 
God to salvation, and sanctification of the Spirit and 
belief of the truth came afterwards. It is also said 
elsewhere, that as many as were ordained unto eternal 
life believed . 3 This is said in reference to the results 
of the early preaching of the gospel. The Apostle uses 

1 Rom. 9: II, 12, 13. 2 2 Thes. 2: 13. 3 Acts 13: 48. 


252 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


this language, Whom he did foreknow he also did pre- 
destinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that 
he might be the first born among many brethren. 
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also 
called : and whom he called, them he also justified : and 
whom he justified, them he also glorified . 1 

“There is no possibilit}^ of mistaking such plain 
language as this,” continued Mr. Ashton. “It is so 
clear and unmistakable that he that runs may read. 
Moreover, some of the early Christians were addressed 
in this way, for ye are saved by grace, through 
faith, and that not of yourselves ; it is the gift of God . 2 
The whole matter of salvation by grace through faith 
is the gift of God, and that was bestowed upon these 
individual Christians to whom this letter was written. 
The belief and the calling, justification, sanctification 
and glorification, were personal experiences, and were 
the result of the ordaining to eternal life, and of the 
predestinating and of the giving of grace. 

“It is clear from passages already mentioned, Will, 
that the choice of all persons who are to be saved is an 
act"of God’s sovereign will and is not in the slightest 
degree based upon any foreseen repentance and faith in 
those chosen. The repentance and faith is the result 
of the choice rather than the cause of that choice. It is 
true that Paul says, whom he did foreknow he also did 
predestinate ; 3 but it would be impossible to foreknow 
any act of a free moral agent unless God had deter- 
mined the line of action.” 

“Such views, it seems to me, Mr. Ashton, shut 
us all up to a sort of fatality. ‘ What is to be will be,’ 
seems to be the logical outcome of what you have said. 
All men are blindly fulfilling the purposes of God, as so 

1 Rom. 8:29, 30. 2 Kph. 2:8. 3 Rom. 8:29. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


253 


many parts fitted into a complicated piece of ma- 
chinery.” 

“Have I not, Will, confined myself to the teachings 
of God’s word in all that I have said ? ” 

“I must admit that you have, Mr. Ashton; but it 
would seem from such teachings that men are but 
‘dumb driven cattle’ in a world of the unalterable 
decrees of divinity.” 

“I am now speaking of this whole subject to 3 ^ou, 
m\ r children, from God’s side. Let us remember that 
there is also just as realty a human side, of which I will 
speak in a few minutes. Before we change our point 
of view I must ask you to remember that the Scrip- 
tures always make the sovereign will of God alone the 
reason why some are chosen and saved, and others are 
not. The Savior prays, I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord 
of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these 
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed 
them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed 
good in thv sight. 1 Again it is said that God said to 
Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, 
and I will have compassion on whom I will have com- 
passion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor 
of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. 
For the Scripture saycth unto Pharaoh, even for 
this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might 
show my power in thee, and that my name might 
be declared throughout all the earth. 2 Speaking 
of Christians the same inspired writer says, In whom 
also we have obtained an inheritance, being predesti- 
nated according to the purpose of him who works 
all things after the counsel of his own will. 3 

“There is also in the Bible an explicit denial of any 

1 Matt, 11: 25, 26. 2 Rom. 9: 15, 16, 17. 3 Eph. 1 : 11. 


254 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


difference among men except as God makej the differ- 
ence by his grace to those whom he chooses to save. 
For who rnaketh thee to differ from another ? and 
what hast thou that thou didst not receive ? Now 
if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou 
hadsf not received it ? 1 Our Lord said to his disciples, 
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and 
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit . 2 

“We have also a most emphatic denial of the fact 
that the good works of any one is the basis of God’s 
choice of him to salvation. Concerning the salvation 
of the Jews the Apostle says, Even so then at this pres- 
ent time also there is a remnant according to the 
election of grace. And if by grace then it is no more 
of works : otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it 
be of works, then it is no more grace : otherwise work 
is no more work . 3 It is said of God, that he hath 
saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not 
according to our works, but according to his own pur- 
pose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus 
before the world began . 4 By nature, my children, 
man’s nature is totally disinclined to all that is good, 
his affections are wholly fixed on that which is evil. 
If any one is saved it must be done by an exertion 
of power entirely outside of himself.” 

“I fully realize that, Mr. Ashton. But the strange 
thing about the whole matter is that God should 
choose to save some and pass by others, all being 
equally guilty and helpless. This seems to be unjust or 
partial. Or if you say that the whole matter was 
„ arranged beforehand and independent of anything man 
could do, then it seems to destroy man’s responsi- 
bility.” 

1 1 Cor. 4:7. 2 Jolxa 15: 10. 3 Rjm. 11:5,0. 4 Eph. 1:9. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


255 




“God’s choice of certain persons to salvation, Will, 
is not, I think, inconsistent with the highest justice, 
nor does it destroy human responsibility. It is not, as 
some have styled it, the old fatalism of the Greeks and 
Romans. It embraces all the means of salvation as 
well as salvation itself. Feeling that such objections 
would be raised, the Apostle asks, what shall we say 
then ? Is there unrighteousness ( injustice ) with God ? 
God forbid. As to human responsibility he says, Thou 
wilt then say unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? 
For who hath resisted his will? — how can God hold 
man accountable ? for all these things are the result 
ot God’s choice, and his will is fulfilled — his will of pur- 
pose — Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest 
against God ? Shall the thing formed say to him that 
formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ? Hath not 
the potter power over the clay, of the same lump 
to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto 
dishonor ? 1 ” 

“I cannot say anything against that language,” 
said the young man, “since I see you have read it from 
the Bible. But are you sure, sir, that we correctly un- 
derstand that language? Does it mean just what 
it seems to us to mean ? Or is there not a wide scope 
or drift in the sacred writer’s argument, which, if duly 
considered, would somewhat modify the apparent 
meaning of this language ? Does it not seem, sir, that 
if we understand this language to mean absolutely 
what it seems to mean, that, if God, with reference to 
human beings who can feel pain and joy, as sover- 
eignly as the potter, makes some of these as vessels to 
honor and some as vessels to dishonor, we thereby 
attribute partiality and injustice to him ? Does it not 


1 Rom. 9: 14, 19, 20,21. 


256 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


seem that sueh a view of him would represent him as 
acfbing most arbitrarily and therefore most unjustly ? ” 

“My son, I fully appreciate the force of the diffi- 
culty you mention, and I cannot fully explain the 
mystery it involves. I am sure the language means 
what its first reading would suggest. But I have long 
since been forced to accept and rest upon the fact that, 
as in the works of God, so in the word of God, 
there hre many things I cannot understand. We 
are clearly taught in the Scriptures and by an enlight- 
ened conscience that God is just, though in the admin- 
istration of the affairs of his empire there may be many 
things which now seem to be inconsistent with 
his justice. In fact, ‘there is no higher rule of justice 
than God himself, 1 ’ and what the Judge of all the 
world does must be right . 2 God might justly condemn 
the whole world. Not a single one of the entire 
race of man has the slightest claim upon his mercy and 
favor. But if, in his wonderful and condescending 
mercy, he chooses, for reasons known only to himself, 
to save a portion of this undeserving race and not 
to save the rest, he has done no injustice to those 
whom he does not save. If he might justly condemn 
every one , there is surely no injustice in condemning 
some who deserve condemnation.” 

“Julia sat so pale and haggard during this conver- 
sation that Will, as he looked upon her marble features 
almost continuously, fancied that the bright but bur- 
dened spirit might at any time forsake its frail earthly 
tabernacle. Not that she was naturally more frail 
than others who had grown up in similar circum- 
stances, but her physical frame seemed to be insufficient 
to support the spirit in passing through the intense 

1 Dagg’s “Manuel of Theology, ■’ p. 270. 2 Gen. 18: 25. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


257 


struggles through which she had recently been passing. 
At this point in the conversation she seemed to have 
reached the limits of her power to suffer spiritual 
anguish. In a voice of intense sadness she said : 

“Do you know, uncle, that these declarations 
which yon have been giving us from the Bible, which 
you call the Book of God, are driving me to the verge 
of skepticism. If what you say is true — and I have 
not the slightest disposition to doubt anything which 
you give as the result of your loving study of the 
Bible — if God chooses whom he will and hardens 
whom he will, then I am left .out in his choice 
and I am not responsible for it. The respon- 
sibility all rests upon God. I wanted to be saved. 
I tried to be saved. I wept to be saved ! But 
God has passed me by in the bestowment of his 
gifts of salvation. I am lost ! And God has decreed 
it ! I am a vessel of dishonor and God is to be glorified 
by my endless destruction. Ah me ! why should he ever 
have permitted me to live or why should he permit 
any of the vessels of dishonor to live ? when from the 
beginning he knew and determined that he would not 
save us, and that our unending existence means unend- 
ing anguish and everlasting bewailing of our misery 
and blasphemy of his name! Would it not be as well 
for me to curse God and die ? 1 Why does God mock 
me and all the millions whom he has determined not to 
save, by offering us salvation and withholding those 
influences by which alone we are enabled to accept 
these offers ? Can I believe that God is sincere when he 
presses upon me the offers of salvation while at 
the same time he knows that I cannot accept these 
offers and that he will not give me the ability to aceept 


1 Job 2:9. 


258 


FROM error’s chains. 


of Christ and be saved? Does not this prove the 
insincerity of the universal offers ? ” 

“Nay, my daughter, I beg you, do not charge God 
foolishly,” said Mr. Ashton, with the tenderness and 
trustful repose of his loving heart. “I am sure that so 
long as you have this deep feeling in reference to your 
salvation God’s blessed Spirit has not forsaken you. 
No one need ever declare that he is lost so long 
as the Spirit influences the heart. Those who are 
abandoned by the Holy Spirit never feel any of this 
deep longing for rest of soul which you now feel. God 
is leading you, my dear, in these experiences by a wa} r 
which you know not. Let me ask you if you do 
not, independently of all reason and Scripture, feel that 
you are perfectly free to act one way or the other 
as you may choose? Just disengage your thoughts 
entirely from this matter of God’s choice and tell 
me if you do not feel, if you do not know , that there is 
a choice for you also to make in your salvation.” 

“It does seem so, uncle,” she said, with the 
faintest ray of hope upon her face. 

“It is true, my daughter. You are just as free 
to choose or reject salvation as though there were no 
God in the universe. You feel that you must make 
a choice. The Scriptures teach you that you must 
make a choice. Therefore the certainty of the fact that 
you will or will not be saved does not by any means 
destroy your freedom of choice. Speaking of the cruci- 
fixion of our Lord Peter, said on the day of Pentecost, 
that, being delivered by the determinate counsel and 
foreknowledge of God the people had yet taken him 
and by wicked hands slain him . 1 All the circum- 
stances of that tragic event had been fixed by the 


1 Acts 2:2a. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


259 


determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, yet the 
men who participated in it acted just as freely as it is 
possible for created beings to act when, with wicked 
hands, they put him to death. The certainty that they 
would act just as they did was not in the slightest 
degree destructive of the responsibility of the actors. 
In the exercise of the fullest possible freedom they vol- 
untarily chose to act as they did, yet their free actions 
were all known and predetermined by God and were 
even foretold by the prophets.” 

“So dark! So strange!” said the young lady, as 
much to herself as to her friends. “God chooses abso- 
lutely ! and yet I must choose too ! God chooses ! Yet 
I am responsible ! ” 

After a brief pause she added : 

“I cannot yet understand how God can sincerely 
offer every one salvation when he knows they cannot 
accept unless he helps them to do so, and has deter- 
mined not to give that help to all, yet making their 
refusal to be saved an aggravation and increase 
of their guilt. Such, it seems to me, is a solemn 
mockery which God makes of his creatures. Though 
the absolute certainty of what he wills concerning 
me may' not destroy the freedom of my choice, yet here 
we have the great God solemnly urging everyone 
to come to Christ and live, and knowing at the same 
time that many will not, for they cannot, come, and 
they cannot come because he has determined not 
to give them power to come. Does God thus make 
a mock of those whom he has created ? ” 

“Your question, my dear, brings us face to face 
with a mystery which we cannot- solve. Here we 
must just say we do not understand how God can 
really offer salvation when he knows that many can 


260 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


only and will only surely reject it. This is one of the 
secret things which belong to God.” 

“There it is again, uncle. That is the same answer 
you have so often given me in lieu of a satisfactory 
explanation of something which you find in the Bible. 
‘ We do not know ! ’ ‘ We cannot understand ! ’ I wish 

we could understand,” said Julia earnestly. 

“My dear, we are bound to admit that this is just 
what God does. He offers salvation to every one who 
hears. He either wishes to save everyone and cannot ; 
or else he can save every and does not purpose to 
do so. Which shall we say ? Shall we limit his power 
or shall we say that he does not purpose the salvation 
of every one ? If God is all-powerful, as the Scriptures 
clearly teach, -then we learn best of what he purposes 
to do by what he actually does. He could save all by 
the same means that he saves some. He presses the 
offer of salvation upon every one and yet withholds 
from some that influential grace which would incline 
them to accept, and which he could bestow upon every 
one if he chose to do so. We are all dead in sin. We 
are all totally alienated from God and holiness. We 
all stand upon the same platform before him. There is 
no peculiarity of merit in the case of those whom he 
does save. He could employ the same gracious 
influences upon all that are bestowed upon some. He 
does not do so. Yet he sincerely offers salvation to 
them. Some voluntarily and freely refuse these offers 
and are lost. How all this is consistent we do not 
understand. These are facts. Logic and reason can- 
not make any headway against fadls.” 

“Uncle, I know your true and loving heart. In 
a thousand ways I have had evidences of your strong 
and disinterested love for me. I cannot comprehend 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


261 


these things concerning God. Therefore I cannot find 
rest for my soul.” 

“The trouble with you, my dear, is that }^ou 
are trying to lay hold of and understand the deep 
things of the Bible before you have learned its first 
principles. When you were a school girl your teacher 
did not require you to study grammar or geography 
or arithmetic until you had learned the alphabet 
and spelling and reading. You could not have learned 
the higher studies at all if you had been unable to spell 
and read. You have not yet learned the alphabet 
in religion and yet here you are trying to master 
its profound doctrines. The first thing to do in 
religion is to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus 
Christ.. You have no business whatever now in trying 
to understand God’s purposes. The Scriptures declare 
plainly that whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus 
Christ shall not perish, but have everlasting life . 1 Put 
aside all thoughts of whether you are chosen or not 
and rest firmly on this word of our Lord himself — 
whosoever — for it makes an invitation fully broad 
enough to include you. He says also that, 4 him that 
cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. 2 ’ Just 
as sure as } r ou trust him ; just as sure as you come 
to Christ; just that sure will you be saved.” 

“That is it!” exclaimed Will. “I have felt all the 
while that there was something wrong in trying to 
understand all about God’s purposes before we believe. 
Miss Julia, can you not see it now ? Can you not cast 
out all these thoughts of the deep things of God and 
begin with the simple fact of giving your heart to 
Christ ? It is so easy.” 

“It mav seem very easy to you who have believed. 

1 John 3: 16. 2 John 6: 37. 


262 FROM error’s chains 

But it is all enveloped in impenetrable darkness before 
my eyes.” 

There are many who are thus groping in the dark- 
ness, because they cannot satisfactorily solve the 
mysteries of religious truth which have eluded the 
grasp of the most pious and talented investigators 
of all the centuries. The blessed loving Lord is waiting 
with outstretched hands to bestow the gift of eternal 
life upon them and the}' are spending the precious, 
golden moments of life over the mysteries of God’s pur- 
poses, and neglecting to look to Christ and live. 
Failure to gain light upon these secret things of God 
was driving this earnest and gifted young lady into 
the very jaws of despair. It need not be so ; it ought 
not to be so ; but it was so. 

Additional gloom was cast over this little group by 
the arrival of a messenger, bearing the sad intelligence 
that poor old Robinson Comings had died in a 
neighboring city. He had retired to his room on the 
previous evening apparently in good health, and on 
this morning had been found dead in his room. 
He had long and earnestly worked for the Lord. 
Although afflicted with mental freaks, he was ever 
devoutly attached to everything that was religious 
and for the benefit of his fellow men. He had lived in 
the most frugal manner and used almost his entire 
income in deeds of beneficence. The circumstances 
of his death were a fitting and beautiful end to his long 
and useful life. He died on his knees, in an attitude 
of prayer. 

Mr. Ashton felt a sincere attachment to the half- 
crazy old man because of his excellence of character and 
goodness of heart. The news of his sudden and unex- 
pected death gave him real sorrow, and was received 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


263 


with sincere regret by his niece and her young friend. 
As the brief note from Dr. Prescott, mentioning his 
death and the arrangement for the interment of his 
remains early on the morrow in a distant cemetery, 
was again read, Mr. Ashton said, as though address- 
ing the dead : 

“Servant of God, well done; 

Rest from thy loved employ: 

The battle fought, the victory won; 

Enter thy Master’s joy.” 




264 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

NIGHT THOUGHTS. 

“I heard the trailing garment of the night 
Sweep through her marble halls.” 

— LoNQKEIjIjOW. 

As the shades of evening were gathering thick and 
dark over the city, Will Mortimer, with a heavy heart, 
bade adieu to the inmates of Ashton Hall, and sought 
the solitude of his own room. Long and anxiously he 
paced the floor, living over again the hours of the 
day just closed upon the world. How vividly did 
all the scenes of the afternoon pass in review before 
him, the melancholy of her whom his soul loved, as he 
found her seated on the rocks on the margin of the 
river in the chill autumn air, seeking respite from 
her purturbation of spirit in the hoarse voice of the 
waters, her inability to lay hold of the blessed hope 
of the gospel, and the fearful havoc which the conflict 
in her heart was making upon her physical frame. He 
thought long and anxiously over it all and sought 
to reach some conclusion as to what would be the final 
outcome of her case, and what he might do to aid 
in her deliverance from the toils of this spiritual 
bondage. He tried to persuade himself that his 
anxiety was purely disinterested and was that which 
every Christian should feel for the salvation of every 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


265 


one who is a stranger to the sweet peace and rest 
of the gospel. Perhaps he did not fully realize that his 
purely human love fanned into a “blaze of glory” his 
desires and efforts for the conversion of Julia Ashton. 

“She must be relieved!” he said to himself. “Her 
worn and pale face is a silent but mighty appeal to 
every one who loves the Master to plead for her in 
his presence. Prayer is mighty. The effectual fervent 
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 1 I cannot 
claim any such efficacy for my prayers, but I know 
that Mr. Ashton’s prayers, with his strong faith, will 
avail much, and I know that he daily prays for her sal- 
vation. My own petitions shall be constantly added 
to his. Surely the Lord will not allow this bright jewel 
to be forever dimmed in spite of earnest cries and 
entreaties that it may sparkle in undimmed lustre 
in the Lord’s galaxy of jewels. Barriers of prayer shall 
constantly be placed around abont her. 

“I remember,” he continued in his soliloqu 3 r , “that 
four men once brought a helpless paralytic to the 
Lord, and being unable to gain an entrance into the 
house where he was teaching, they removed the tiling 
from the roof and let the sick man on his couch down 
into the presence of the Lord. His heart of infinite 
compassion was moved by this exhibition of the faith 
of the sick man’s friends and he healed him. Of course 
the paralytic was willing to be healed, but he was 
entirely unable to come to the great Healer. 

“I remember also that poor Canaanitish woman 
who came to the Master and earnestly prayed, Have 
mercy on me, 0 Lord, thou Son of David ; my daughter 
is grievously vexed with a demon ! to whom at first he 
answered nothing. I remember how severely her faith 


1 James 5:16. 


266 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


was tried by the suggestion of the disciples to drive 
her away, and still further, as she cried for mercy, how 
it was tried by the Lord reminding her that it was not 
proper to take the children’s bread and cast it to the 
dogs, and how her faith still pleaded for the afflicted 
daughter in that humble cry, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs 
eat of the crumbs which fall from the Master’s table. 
This was sufficient. The Lord had brought out the 
power and intensity of the mother’s faith, and now he 
says to her, 0 woman, great is thy faith : be it unto 
thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed 
from that hour. 1 

“Perhaps the Lord is thus testing the faith of those 
who desire the salvation of this gifted girl. Let me 
see. Is it not said that Jesus Christ is the same yester- 
day, today and forever ? 2 . Is he not as willing now to 
heal stricken spirits as he was then to heal those 
who suffered with grievous bodily affliction ? Is 
not the healing of the soul of this young lady of far 
more consequence than the healing of the body of this 
afflicted daughter of the Canaanish woman ? I am 
sure it is. It is only a question of time. She will find 
rest. She must find rest! Oh God! give us faith 
to earnestly and importunately present her before the 
merc}^ seat.” 

Thus grew the cable of prayer that was being 
wrought to bind Julia Ashton to the higher and better 
life which she had well nigh concluded was be 3 T ond her 
reach. 

In the meantime the conflict raged wild and fiercely 
in the heart of Julia, between the earnest soul -longings 
for rest and the powers of evil which were marshalled 
to oppose her deliverance. It seemed also as though 

1 Matt. 15: 22-23. 2 Heb. 13:3. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


267 


the frail physical frame could not much longer sustain 
the conflict. The last despairing effort, as she sup- 
posed, was being made to overcome the enemies and 
find rest and peace. In the anguish of this hour her 
intensity of desire finds expression in those beautiful 
and earnest words of Thomson, in his “Winter: ” 

“Father of light and life, thou God supreme! 

O teach me what is good! teach me thyself! 

Save me from folly, vanity and vice, 

From every low pursuit; and feed my soul 

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virture pure, 

Sacred, substantial, never - fading bliss! ” 

“I can truly say,’’ she murmured languidly to her- 
self, “in this dark hour of all things earthly, ‘Where 
now, ye lying vanities of life ! ye ever tempting, 
ever -cheating train! where are ve now? and what 
is your amount ? ’ Have I not tried you all and found 
you utterly empty and unsatisfying? Ye all, 3'e all! 
are entirely without power to sustain the soul in its 
supreme need! ‘Sad, sickening thought!’ Your ut- 
most sum is vexation, disappointment! ‘All is vanity 
and vexation of spirit.’ Ah, my poor throbbing head ! 
All is blackness ! My brain reels ! The room grows 
dark! ’’ 

A shriek brought the servant to Julia’s side. Ten- 
derly the unconsious girl was placed upon her couch by 
her uncle and the servant. A skillful physician was 
quickly summoned. But it really seemed for a time 
that, despite the ministrations of affection and medi- 
cal skill, the spirit would forsake its earthly tenement. 
After all that could be done, the sufferer lay upon 
her couch pallid and unconscious, and only the faint 
breathing and feeble fluttering of the pulse indicated 
that the spirit still lingered in its earthly tabernacle. 

Thus, while the lover was offering earnest prayer 


268 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


for her rest of spirit and was seeking to raise a bar- 
ricade of spiritual influence around her, it seemed as 
though death would inevitably cut short the work and 
extinguish the life around which clustered the bright 
hopes which had been conceived in his fancy, and 
wrought out by his strong religious hope. 

Unconscious of the presence and the threatening 
menace of physical suffering in the darkened chamber 
of the object of his heart’s love, the young lawyer 
pleaded long and earnestly at the divine throne for the 
healing of the wounded spirit. Prayer is the lever that 
moves the arm that moves the universe, and 

“Satan trembles when he sees 
The weakest saint upon his knees.” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


269 


CHAPTER XXII. 

A VISIT.— RETURNING HEALTH. 

“Gold that buys health can never be 111 spent. 

Nor hours laid out In harmless merriment.” 

— John Webster. 

“Time rolls his ceaseless course.” It is again 
balmy spring. The wintry days, with their icy breath, 
have all leaped into the changeless past. The sun is 
again kissing the world into new life and warming 
vegetation into verdure and beauty. The birds are 
making the grand old forests and leafy glens vocal 
with their merry carols. The flowers are giving out 
their fragrance. All Nature is rejoicing despite the 
dark tide of human sorrow which ever flows onward 
over our sin - cursed world. 

After many long weary days the invalid girl rallied 
slowly back into life, for the flickering lamp was not 
entirely extinguished. As soon as strength would 
permit, Julia left Ashton Hall to visit an aunt in a 
distant city farther into the heart of the sunny south. 
For some weeks she has been rapidly regaining 
strength, and under the genial glow of this April day 
she and her friend Laura Chatfield are wending their 
way amidst the beauty of the luxuriant shrubbery 
of the cemetery in the outskirts of the city. Suddenly 
she came near a newly erected monument with the 


270 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


inscription “Robinson Comings” and underneath it 
these lines : 

“In the summer-land they’ve placed him, 

’Neath a sky that's ever blue; 

And heaven never smiled on one 
More generous and true.” 

At the sight of this monument a tide of emotion 
surged over Julia and she was almost overcome, as she 
remembered all the past she knew of this good but 
unbalanced old man. She remembered vividly his 
eccentricities, his earnest and weird pleadings for her 
heart, his renewal of his .suit in the form of “a declara- 
tion of war”; and above all his goodness of heart 
everywhere acknowledged, and his life of usefulness 
terminating as he was upon his knees in prayer. 

“Yes,” she said, “these are true words; ‘Heaven 
never smiled upon one more generous and true.' 
Would my heart were as thoroughly at rest as the 
spirit of this old man now is. But I did not know 
that he had been brought to this sunny land for inter- 
ment.” 

“He was brought here for burial,” replied Laura, 
“because this city was the scene of a large portion 
of his early life and labors. Here for a number of years 
he worked at literary and religious writing and in his 
vocation of proof-reader. Here too he did much to 
carry comfort to the lives and homes of the miserable 
and unfortunate of the city. This of course I have 
heard from others. When his death came his old 
friends requested that his remains be brought to this 
spot for interment. I have no doubt he was a good 
sort of a cranky old man. But I am surprised, Julia, 
to hear you speak of his spirit (whatever that may 
be), as though there were any part of him to live after 
that crazy old body died. You are a sensible girl in 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


271 


other respects. Do you still hold on to that super- 
stition ? I thought you had grown wiser and put 
away from y^ou such stuff.” 

“Hush, Laura; you shock me! Why should I not 
believe in a future life ? Was not this same old man a 
standing argument for its reality^ while he lived ? And 
by your own admission, in his deeds of benevolence, he 
being dead yet speaketh . 1 If I am not mistaken, I 
once heard you in an argument admit as much, by pro- 
ceeding upon a line which assumed, or took for 
granted, the reality of a future life.” 

‘‘So I dicl, but I prefaced the whole argument with 
an expression of my doubt of the entire substance 
of the book called the Bible and the teachings con- 
tained in it. It is an ingeniously devised scheme I 
admit, but it is full of discrepancies and inaccuracies, 
and is totally unworthy of the credence of any one who 
claims any degree of intelligence — But listen! I hear 
the cry of hounds, which sounds as though they are 
coming th : s way ! They come quite near ! ” 

‘‘Oh! Laura, what shall we do? Shall we run? 
Oh ! what shall we do ? ” 

With blanched faces and beating hearts they took 
refuge hastily within an enclosure of iron railing, the 
gate of which happened to be standing open, and hur- 
riedly slammed the gate after them. Scarcely had they 
availed themselves of this hasty refuge when a pair 
of large blood hounds passed by them on the opposite 
side of the enclosure from which they had entered and 
with the swiftness of the wind rushed on. In a few 
moments they heard, only a short distance from them, 
the shrieks and curses of a man, and the cries of the 
hounds at bay. Before they could think, three men, 


1 Heb. 11:4. 


272 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


uniformed as policemen, passed rapidly in the direction 
of the yelping hounds and the cursing man, exclaiming 
as they passed : “They’ve treed him ! ” 

The two young ladies, feeling that they too to 
some extent, had been treed, were thinking over plans 
for their escape from their unpleasant position, when 
the policemen returned with a prisoner in shackles, and 
observed them for the first time. 

Touching their caps one of them said : 

“Sorry to give ye this fright, leddies. But ye see, 
one of the prison convicts made his escape last night 
and we were out today and tracked him to this ‘city 
of the dead’ and nabbed him jest out there. No danger 
to ye at all! Come on, fellers, with yer man. Good 
mornin’ to yes, leddies,” and the strange procession 
passed on. 

“Ralph Norton! ” exclaimed Julia, as she caught a 
view of the prisoner’s face and recognized him, clad in 
his prison garb and changed though he was. 

“Poor Mrs. Norton! She, the mother of that 
degraded prisoner, is a good true Christian woman, 
if there are any Christians. How it wrung her heart 
when this, her son, was convicted of crime and sen- 
tenced to a prisoner’s cell, and how her heart seemed 
to cling to little Belle, Ralph’s daughter, after his con- 
viction. She used to say — I remember it all so vividly, 
for I often went with my uncle to visit Mrs. Norton in 
her distress — ‘My son is taken from me and Belle is all 
I have to love.’ And it was a suggestion of my uncle 
to go and aid her that succeeded in diverting the mind 
of that good old man, whose body lies there, from 
his wild crazy freak of being my suitor.” 

“I declare, Julia! that wooing of old Robinson was 
the funniest thing I ever heard of. Don Quixote’s 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


273 


exploits were not a circumstance to his love making. 
Why didn’t you ‘reciprocate’ and make the old man 
happy ? He might, in that case, have still been alive. 
How nice it would have sounded to address my sweet 
little friend as Mrs. Robinson Comings.” 

“Laura, do hush! You can talk so ridiculously 
and foolishly when you try. I don’t believe you could 
be serious at the funeral of your dearest friend.” 

“What’s the use, my little puritan, in always 
having a face as long as a freight train? Life is too 
short to lose any of it in vain melancholy. My creed is 
a very short and practical one, and withal is contained 
in that book which Christians reverentially christen as 
The Book — par excellence , of course — ‘ Let us eat and 
drink, for tomorrow we die, 1 ’ and, I will add, are 
no more. In other words, while we do live, let us have 
a jolty good time. That’s my creed, based on the 
teachings of your Bible.” 

“You forget, my friend, that the whole tenor of the 
Bible condemns the sentiment you have just quoted. 
Although, in the argument of Paul, as I have heard my 
uncle say, he does not in so many words, condemn 
adlion upon this motto, yet the whole drift of his argu- 
ment is to show that if there is no resurrection of the 
body ” 

“Stop! stop! my dear; don’t talk to me of this 
arrant nonsense of a dead body, decayed and dis- 
solved, ever living again.” 

“Strike! Laura; but hear me first. The whole 
drift of the argument is to show that if there is no 
resurrection of the body, there was no resurrection 
of Christ, there is no truth in the gospel, there is 
nothing in the whole Christian system, and then there 


1 1 Cor. 15:82. 


274 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


would be wisdom in the motto, Let us eat and drink, 
for tomorrow we die. If hope in Christ, with all it 
involves, were confined to this life, then were 3 r our 
creed the highest wisdom. Exactly as you do, a man 
did whom the Lord mentions as a supposed case, or he 
may have had in mind a real case. With increase 
of harvests, he pulled down his old barns and built 
greater ones, and said to his soul — to himself — Soul, 
thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take 
thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God said to 
him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required 
of thee : then whose shall those things be, which thou 
hast provided ? 1 ” 

“ ‘ Thou reasonest well ’, my dear, provided , several 
things be true — for instance, if there be anything 
be} r ond death, if the Bible be true, and if there be a 
God. There being so much doubt in m}' mind on these 
points I still insist that my creed is wise and gives me 
pleasure.” 

“Doubtless it does give you pleasure in the present 
life, Laura, but how about the life to come ? ” 

“The present life is good enough for me . 2 I would 
be perfectly willing to accept this life throughout 
eternity, did not a cruel fate, or something else decree 
that I must die and be no more. That being the case, 
I give myself to getting the most I possibly can out 
of this life while I have it. If there is any other life, I 
suppose I can* when I enter it, address myself to its 
claims and possibilities. I leave the issues of that life 
to be met when that life is entered.” 

“But suppose those issues are made to depend 
upon our use of the present life. Suppose this life is the 

1 Luke 12: 19, 20. 2 The author once heard a gifted woman use 

this expression. 


FROM error’s chains. 275 

vestibule of preparation for the life to come: what 
then ? ” 

“In that event, I throw myself upon the mercy and 
generosity of chance, or God, or whoever else may 
preside over the issues of that life. In the mean time, 
as that is so vague and far away and doubtful I am 
determined to get the very best I can out of this 
life, and I would advise you to do the same.” 

“I confess, Laura, that so many things in this life 
seem so wild and chaotic and dark, that I am contin- 
ually filled with perplexity and doubt. Mv soul, or 
mind, or whatever it is within me that thinks, and 
tries to reason, is as a dove with outstretched wing, 
flying to and fro over a wide expanse of chaos, and 
finding nothing solid to rest upon. For instance, how 
strange that I should be here in this beautiful city 
of the dead, and that I should accidentally come upon 
the grave of my crazy old friend of former days, 
and in this strange way also be be brought face to face 
with the criminal son of dear old Mrs. Norton. It is 
all so strange. I feel that if there is any ‘ clew to the 
maze 1 ’ in which I find myself -it must be found in 
the Bible. It is indeed true that, as Addison says; 

•The ways of heaven are dark and intricate. 

Puzzled with mazes, and perplexed with error.’ 

But come, let us retrace our steps, for I am faint and 
weary after my terrible shock of a few moments ago.” 

Sleep was not refreshing to Julia Ashton that 
night, and she awoke next morning with a severe 
headache which stubbornly refused to yield to the ordi- 
nary remedies, and she was obliged to spend the day 
upon a couch of suffering. But the weary hours were 
beguiled by the tender and loving ministrations of her 

1 Spurgeon has a book with this title. 


276 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


aunt, and by the arrival of a message in the late after- 
noon, that her beloved pastor, Dr. Prescott, had 
reached the city and would call to see her next 
morning. 

This latter piece of intelligence would ordinarily 
have been a surprise to Julia Ashton under such 
circumstances. But things so surprising had so often 
occurred in her experience of late that she had almost 
ceased to be surprised at anything. This announce- 
ment, however, was none the less pleasant. 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


277 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

IS GOD UNRIGHTEOUS? 

1 There is no strength in unbelief. Even the unbelief of what is false 
is no source of might. It is the truth shining from behind that gives the 
strength to disbelieve. Georgk MacDonald. 

“Not at rest yet,” was the mental comment of the 
pastor, as he greeted his gifted young friend, and, with 
his intuition of spirit, read in her features the unmis- 
takable signs of spiritual perturbation. 

“I am so glad to see you, Dr. Prescott. To what 
fortunate circumstance am I indebted for the unex- 
pected pleasure of this visit from you ? ” 

“My mission, Miss Julia, is a very sad one. Poor 
Mrs. Norton is now very low with fever, perhaps is 
at the very gates of death, and, at her request I have 
come to see if there is any possibility of inducing the 
prison authorities to allow her son to visit her. I do 
not know that it can be accomplished. If it cannot, 
then I am requested to bear to Ralph his 
mother’s dying request to break off from his sins and 
turn to Christ and meet her in heaven.” 

“Oh, Dr. Prescott, how sad! Poor Mrs. Norton! 
And poor little Belle ! What will become of her ? ” 

“The Lord will provide, Miss Julia. He is the 
orphan’s friend and Belle is now an orphan by her 
father’s crimes. Her wants will all be suppled. Of that 


278 


FROM ERROR’S CHAIN?. 


I feel quite sure, for God’s word is pledged to its 
accomplishment . ’ ’ 

“How strangely, Dr. Prescott, are old friends and 
old associations crossing my path in this distant city. 
In the cemetery quite recently I chanced to find, very 
unexpectedly, the grave of our crazy old friend, Rob- 
inson Comings, and at that very moment, almost, 
Laura Chat field and I were startled by the cry 
of blood hounds and to our amazement and fright we 
soon saw three officers pass with Ralph Norton in 
irons. He had made his escape and was recaptured 
within a few yards of Robinson’s grave. And now you 
are here. If uncle were to step in now the circle would 
be complete and the happenings wonderful ” 

“Here I am, my dear,’’ exclaimed Mr. Ashton, 
stepping in at that moment, accompanied by Judge 
Norman and Laura Chatfield, and tenderly greeting 
his niece. 

“And here I am too, Miss Julia, and right glad am 
I to see 3^ou. But you haven’t yet woed the roses back 
to your cheeks. Why don’t you do that ? ’’ 

“And woo somebody else back to your side,’’ 
laughed Laura. 

“Indeed, Judge, I am quite well, and am only a 
little pale from a severe headache. I am real glad to 
see you and my friend, Laura, who comes with you. 
How strange that you all should have come in at the 
very moment when I was telling Dr. Prescott of the 
wonderful manner in which old friends and old asso- 
ciations had recently crossed my path.” 

“Just a happen-so, Miss Julia; just a happen-so. 
I am here to help our pastor to do something, if possi- 
ble, for that scape grace, Ralph Norton. The scamp 
deserves all his punishment, but the thing so preys 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


279 


upon his mother’s mind that we thought something 
must be done.” 

“And I thought, my dear, it would be a fitting 
time for me to visit you and my sister. So I am here. 
The old home is so lonely without you, and a certain 
young friend seems so woe -begone and desolate. I am 
here to hurry you up in the recovery of your strength.” 

“Indeed, uncle, your presence does me good as 
a medicine. I feel stronger already. I sincerely hope, 
for the sake of smoothing and tranquilizing the last 
days of old Mrs. Norton’s life, the mission of you, 
Judge, and Dr. Prescott, may be .successfully accom- 
plished . ’ ’ 

“We may possibly have him visit his mother, 
Miss Julia, but of that I am doubtful, very doubtful. 
As for his ever repenting and mending his ways, I 
think that’s out of the question, and I may-say, well 
nigh impossible,” said the Judge. 

“With God all things are possible, 1 Judge. He is 
able to save the very chief of sinners, 2 ” said Dr. Pres- 
cott. 

“Yes, my dear sir. Of course, God is able to do 
this, but will he do it ? That’s the question, sir. That’s 
the question.” 

“This is, of course,” said Laura, “something that 
you Christians must settle among yourselves. I have 
this to say, however. If the being whom you worship 
as God can save whomsoever he chooses, and yet 
passes 103^ my sweet friend, Julia, here, in order to save 
such as that hardened criminal who was the occasion 
of a terrible fright to us in the cemetery, then I don’t 
understand how you can defend his justice. In fact the 
whole scheme taught in your Bible, of placing to the 

1 Mat. 19: 26. 2 1 Tim. 1:15. 


280 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


account of criminals the innocence and merit of a good 
man, and placing all of their crimes to his account, and 
punishing him instead of them, plays havoc with all 
• ideas of justice. Then what’s the use in saving people 
on this metaphysical idea, any way, when those thus 
saved live and act very much as other folks do, who 
have never exercised the mental act which the saved 
profess to have exercised ? Isn’t the whole thing after 
all something intangible ; a sort of mental illusion ? ” 

“I myself,” said Julia, “have recently had a great 
deal of trouble concerning the teaching which makes 
so much to depend upon the exercise of the mental act 
of faith, in the Scriptural plan of saving people. I 
know I would like to have the peace and rest which 
some seem to have, but there arises within me all sorts 
of thoughts and doubts about this matter of how God 
does save men and why in this way. It’s all dark 
to me and sometimes I find a purpose almost formed 
in my heart to put the whole subject from me and 
accept the philosophy of my friend, Laura.” 

“Brave, wise little girl you would be!” exclaimed 
Laura. 

“Why, Laura, you shock me! How dare you 
speak with such irreverence ? My dear sir, can’t you 
set these girls on the right track? I know you are 
generally orthodox. Now please start them out on 
the line of orthodoxy,” said the Judge to Dr. Prescott. 

“I have no objection, Judge, to a conversation 
upon these matters of so much interest; but if it would 
be distasteful to these young ladies, I do not think it 
would be best to further pursue the subject,” answered 
the minister. 

“I am sure I did not mean to be irreverent in what 
I said a moment ago, but if Dr. Prescott should under- 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


281 


take to enlighten me he would find me a perfect little 
pagan, and develope me into a first-class specimen 
of irreverence,” said Laura. 

“Still,” she continued, “I am willing to submit to 
my part of the enlightening process, and let him try his 
logic upon me.” 

The pastor replied with calm dignity. 

“Miss Laura, I shall not make any attempt to 
enlighten you. The Bible, which is a lamp to my feet 
and a light to my path , 1 shall be permitted to do all 
the enlightening. Everything I say shall be based 
upon its infallibly inspired teachings.” 

“Which infallibility I seriously doubt,” said Laura, 
“but you need not turn your artillery upon that 
point just now. Proceed upon the assumption that it 
is inspired.” 

“Why, Laura, my dear child, you shock me more 
and more. Is it possible that you are such a skeptic as 
all that ? ” asked the Judge. 

“A truce to my skepticism for the present. I want 
to understand this thing of making criminals heirs 
of unfading glory by a simple mental exercise which 
they are called upon to perform.” 

“I will say then,” continued Dr. Prescott, “that 
there are several ways in which to view this great 
scheme of the delivery of human souls from sin and 
ruin. As the question of divine justice has been men- 
tioned, I will confine my explanations to that view 
of this plan of saving men which appears while we 
stand beside the divine law.” 

“A most uncomfortable position, sir,” said Laura, 
“if the flashings and thunders of Sinia should be 
repeated. But we will ask you to be our Moses and 


1 Psa. 119: 105. 


282 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


take that position near Sinai, while we beg permission 
to remain off at a comfortable distance.” 

“You may now treat this whole subject of religion 
very lightly, Miss Laura, but there will come a time 
when you will realize its serious import. But, as I was 
about to say, in determining to lift up the ruined race 
of man, God could have devised a plan for doing this 
without any regard for the claims of his law. His law, 
however, is the expression of his will with reference to 
human conduct. If he should release from the threat- 
ened penalty all who willfully and persistently violate 
his law, he would stultify' himself and virtu ally r destroy 
his law. Law is nothing if not enforced. Therefore 
either all who break God’s law must suffer the penalty 
of death, or a scheme for delivering them from that 
penalty must be devised which shall fully honor the 
law, and meet all of its demands.” 

“That’s so, my dear sir! That’s so!” exclaimed 
the Judge. “What fool would think of turning loose 
upon society this same scamp, Ralph Norton, who is 
the occasion of our visit to this city' ? Every r one 
would feel outraged if he should go unpunished for his 
crimes. That’s as clear as noonday.” 

“Yes, Judge, law which is not enforced is, in fact, 
not law, but good advice. Everyone must see that 
law uninforced ceases to be law; and, by enforcement, 
I mean of cource the infliction of the designated pen- 
alties in all cases of violation of the law.” 

“These are unpleasant things to think about, 
Dr. Prescott,” exclaimed Laura. “I would greatly 
prefer the exhilaration of the dance, or the excitement 
of a game of progressive euchre, or the displays of the 
splendor of the theatre. I do not like to think of these 
dull questions of law and crime and punishment. 




FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


283 


They are coarse and vulgar, and are suggestive 
of court rooms and jails and other awful things.” 

“Fiddlesticks! Laura. These are grand questions 
and you should think about them, and not fritter 
away your life with such tomfoolery as dancing, cards 
and theatres,” said the Judge. 

“Thes2 are very important and very serious mat- 
ters, Miss Laura,” continued Dr. Prescott. 

“Very well, sir, please proceed, and I will give you 
good attention.” 

“It is said by an eminent writer on Ethics that a 
‘law is a form of expression denoting a mode 
of existence or an order of sequence. 1 ’ I suppose it 
would be difficult for any one on reading that state- 
ment, to obtain a well defined idea of the meaning. 
But he illustrates each part of his definition. A mode 
of existence is brought to view in the law that every 
body set in motion will continue to move in a straight 
line unless compelled by some other force to change its 
course or to stop. An order of sequence is seen in 
the combination of soda and muriatic acid, which 
alwa}'S produces common salt. Such a result always 
follows such a combination. The same divine Power 
who created all things, and who so made these two 
elements as that this result will always follow their 
combination has also said, ‘The soul that sinneth it 
shall die . 2 As surely as the union of soda and muriatic 
acid will produce' salt, so surely will death follow as 
the result of sin.” 

“But how, sir, if there be no God and no soul?” 
asked Laura. 

“Miss Laura, can you look upon that garden 
of beauty, clothed in the verdure of spring ; can you 

1 Wayland’s Elements of Moral Science, p. 23. 2 Ezek. 18: 4, 20. 


284 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


inhale the fragrance of those flowers, and look upon 
their variegated beauty, and doubt the existence 
of God ? Can you consider the grandeur of the 
heavens, with their countless planets whirling in space, 
moving in the most perfect harmony, without any 
clashing or conflict, the sun, with unvarying regularity 
bringing about the day and the night and the summer 
and the winter, the moon waxing and waning 
throughout the centuries without any variation or 
departure from her regular phases — can you think 
of the power displayed in these wonderful movements 
of the heavenly bodies, and say, There may be no God ? 
Could these inanimate objects bring themselves into 
existence or maintain their regular and uniform move- 
ments ? Is this material universe, with its order and 
harmony and beauty, the result of chance, or of the 
fortuitous concourse of atoms? You have too much 
intelligence, despite your efforts to be skeptical, to 
believe such an absurdity as this. I am sure you have 
not a sufficient amount of credulity to accept this logic 
of the denial of God’s existence. Moreover, Miss 
Laura, I have this further question to ask you. Can 
you give attention to the feelings and desires in 
your own heart, and, after mature reflection, doubt 
that you possess an immaterial life which is immortal ? 
Despite all your reasonings, I am persuaded that there 
is a feeling within you that you possess an undying 
principle, and that feeling or conviction will not down 
at your bidding. All men who have thought have been 
convinced of an immortality of man beyond the grave. 
Addison represents Cato as saying : 

1 It must be so— Plato, thou reasonest well !— 

Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, 

This longing after Immortality? 

Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


285 


Of falling into nought ? Why shrinks the soul 
Back on herself and startles at destruction ? 

’Tis the divinity that stirs within us; 

’Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter 
And intimates eternity to man — 

Eternity! thou pleasing dreadful thought !’ 

‘The stars shall fadeaway, the sun himself 
Grow diin with age, and nature sink in years; 

But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth, 

Unhurt amidst the war of elements, 

The wreck of matter and the crush of worlds. l ,M 

“Pretty, poetical sentiments, Dr. Prescott! But 
just how much of that is to be attributed to the poet’s 
imagination we cannot tell.” 

“Well, here is something quite prosy — I do not 
mean uninteresting, but free from any suspicion of a 
play of the imagination. It is an illustration of the 
fadrt that the most eminent materialists of today are 
not absolutely certain that there is no future life. I 
have copied this extract from a lecture of Prof. Barker, 
of Yale College, delivered a few years ago to his 
students. In the lecture he devotes his great learning 
to an attempt to prove that mind is only the result 
of certain combinations of matter. But, in closing his 
lecture, which I have here, the spiritual nature of the 
man cried out in this language in the conclusion of his 
lecture : ‘ Is it only this ? Is there not behind this 

material substance a higher than molecular power, in 
the thoughts which are immortalized in the poetry of a 
Milton or a Shakespeare, the art creative of a Michael 
Angelo or a Titian, the harmonies of a Mozart or a 
Beethoven ? Is there really no immortal portion 
separable from this brain tissue, though yet mysteri- 
ously united to it? In a word, does this curiously 
fashioned body inclose a soul, God -given and to God 
returning? Here science veils her face, and bows in 

1 Addison— Cato; Act V., Sc. 1. 


286 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


reverence before the Almighty. We have passed the 
boundaries by which physical science is enclosed. No 
crucible, no subtle magnetic needle can answer now 
our questions.^ No word but his who made us can 
break the awful silence. In the presence of such a 
revelation science is dumb, and faith comes in joyfully 
to accept that higher truth which can never be the 
subject of physical demonstration.’ ‘Thus Prof. Bar- 
ker’s science gives up the ghost at the feet of his relig- 
ion,’ as remarked by Dr. Hodge. 1 ” 

‘‘That, my dear sir, is a clincher!” exclaimed 
the Judge. “Laura, how dare you fly in the face 
of such testimony as that ? ” 

“How dare you, sir Judge, lend your influence 
to the strong against the weak ? You clearly demon- 
strate that ‘the court,’ which should be impartial, 
leans to one side in this case. I am willing to say, 
‘Silenced, but not satisfied.’ Proceed, Dr. Prescott, to 
vindicate your strange notion of a just God saving 
wicked men upon the obedience and suffering of a 
righteous man. Strange justice this ! ” 

1 Quoted by Dr. Chas. Hodge, “Sys. Theol.” Vol. 1, p. 297. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


287 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

IS GOD JUST IN SAVING MEN? 

“Just are the ways of God, 

And justifiable to men.” 

— Milton. 

“Dr. Prescott, after a moment’s pause, continued: 

“Leaving these reflections as to the future life for 
you to think of hereafter, I return to the question 
of law. The penalty for violations of the moral law 
•will as surely follow as that for violations of plrysical 
laws, though not* so quickly. The hand thrust into 
the fire will at once suffer the penalty for violating this 
natural law. But men may violate moral law — they 
may lie and cheat and blaspheme God’s name — and 
escape for a long time the infliction of the penalty. 

I Because sentence against an evil work is not executed 
speedily therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully 
set in them to do evil . 1 But the punishment will 
surely come. There can be no escape from the law, 
The soul that sinneth it shall die , 2 however men may 
flatter themselves that they can, in some way, elude its 
enforcement. 

“Nor must we lose sight of another truth. Every 
mature man and woman of every nation and age has 
violated moral law and this death penalty rests 

1 Eccl. 8: 11. 2 Ezek. 18: 4, 20. 


288 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


against everyone. They are already condemned by the 
divine law.” 

“Oh, horror of horrors ! Dr. Prescott,” exclaimed 
Laura. Julia was sitting in pallid and breathless 
stillness. 

“Is it possible that you consign all the millions 
who have lived in ignorance of your Bible to the 
eternal burnings of your merciless creed? How can 
there be any justice in the destruction of uncounted 
myriads of wretches who have never heard of what 
you call the way of life ? If such is the true conception 
of your Deity, may I ever more be delivered from 
his tender mercies.” 

“One thing at a time, Miss Laura. I have already 
mentioned the law. I shall now explain, I think, very 
clearly the statement that all mature persons have 
violated this law. From that it will follow that all 
rest under the penalty. By far the largest portion 
of the human family have never heard of the written 
law of the Holy One. But there is enough of the per- 
fections of God displayed in creation to leave everyone 
without excuse for violations of moral law. For the 
invisible things of him from the creation of the world 
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that 
are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that 
they are without excuse . 1 There is such a revelation 
in nature of the eternal power and divinity of God 
as to render all nations excuseless for their want 
of allegiance to him. For as many as sinned without 
law (written law) shall also perish without law: 
and as many as have sinned in the law shall 
be judged by the law ; for not the hearers of the law 
are just before God, but the doers of the law shall 


1 Rom. 1: 20. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


289 


be justified . 1 These declarations teach that all men 
know better than they do.” 

“My dear sir, let me say a word. Doesn’t it seem 
clear that here is some inconsistency — a disagreement 
in the testimony of the witness? Millions without 
excuse, yet, as the witness says, perishing without 
law. If he is without law how can he sin ? If he sins 
not, then he needs no excuse. How’s that, sir?” 

“It is explained by remembering, Judge, that 
the Apostle is showing that both those who have 
not the written law and those who have it are guilty. 
The uncounted numbers, whom for all-sufficient 
purposes known to himself, God permitted to live 
without any knowledge of his written law, not 
only see many evidences of his existence and of his 
government of the world, but also have an inward 
perception of great moral facts. When the gentiles, 
which have not the law, do by nature the things 
contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a 
law unto themselves: which show the work of the law 
written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing 
witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or 
else excusing one another . 2 It is by this law, written 
by the Creator in every man’s heart, that all will 
be judged who have never heard of the written law 
of the Bible. For their failure to do all they know 
to be right they will be condemned to suffer the penalty 
of sin, which is death.” 

“That sounds a little better, my dear sir, but still 
it doesn’t seem quite clear that it is justice, and the 
proper thing to do, to condemn to death all these 
millions who have never heard of the right way.” 

“Let me illustrate this, Judge. Suppose a human 

1 Rom. 2: 12, 13. 2 Rom. 2: 14, 15. 


290 


FROM ERROR’S CHAJXR 


mother murders her child and a tiger mother destroys 
her young. Both the human mother and the tigress 
know what means and what force they must use 
to kill their young. They both determine to use 
the means and the necessary force, and actually 
use both and commit the deed. What is the difference 
between the action of the mother and that of the 
tigress? Both knew, and purposed, and did what was 
necessary to kill their young. But the human mother 
knew that she ought not to kill her babe. In this 
internal feeling of ought and ought not resides the law 
of God written in the heart. My sweet friend here, 
Miss Laura, knows, independently of all reasoning, 
that there are some things which she ought to do and 
some things which she ought not to do.” 

“Of course, she does, my dear sir; of course, we all 
know that, and I am glad you are giving us this 
explanation of the unwritten law of God.” 

“An Indian,” continued Dr. Prescott, “once 
approached a white man and asked him for some 
tobacco. The gentleman in giving him some loose 
tobacco which he had in his pocket, accidentally 
gave him a silver coin which was concealed in the 
tobacco. On the next day the Indian returned the coin 
to him, saying: ‘I have here,’ la^dng his hand on his 
breast, ‘two men — a good man and a bad man. The 
good man says to me, “Take the money back. It is 
not yours, and you have no right to keep it.” The 
bad man then says, “You keep the money. He will 
never know it. Perhaps he meant to give it to you 
anyhow.” But the good man says again, “Give it 
back:” and the bad man says, “Keep it.” They kept 
talking to me all night, so that I could not sleep, and 
now I have brought it back and feel better.’ The 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


291 


Indian’s experience was a clear case of the handwriting 
of God on the heart. There was an intuition that 
he ought to return the money. So in the heart of every 
man and woman of sound mind there is a feeling that 
some things are right and others are wrong, that they 
ought to do certain things, and ought not to do 
certain other things. These feelings they have inde- 
pendently of all reasoning on the subject.” 

“But suppose, my dear sir, some good moral 
heathen should do all of the things which he felt to be 
right ; could he be justly condemned to eternal death ? ’’ 

“No, indeed, Judge. Such a heathen would surely 
be saved as a matter of justice, just as justice would 
demand the salvation of the man who has the written 
law and obeys it perfectly, in both the spirit and the 
letter. The evidence is sufficient to clearly show, 
in reference to all men of whom we have any knowl- 
edge, that eaeh one knew better than he did. They see 
and approve the better, and yet the worse pursue. 
Our missionaries tell us that the heathen of today, 
among whom they labor, especially the thoughtful 
among them, confess that they know better than they 
do, and therefore, fail to obey the law which God has 
written in their hearts, and by which alone they 
will be judged.” 

“This fact, Dr. Prescott, still does not relieve your 
merciless creed of the manifest injustice of giving a 
small portion of the human race a knowledge of the 
way of salvation, as you term it, and leaving the great 
majority in ignorance of this way. Does not that seem 
manifest injustice to the greater number?” asked 
Laura. 

“I confess, Miss Laura, that the idea of eight 
hundred millions of human beings going down to 


292 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


eternal death is enough to fill any one with solemnity. 
But I do not impeach God’s justice. I remember that 
these nations once had the truth and despised it ; that 
God is a sovereign and gives salvation to whom he 
will, all being equally undeserving; and that from 
among all these millions the Lord does actually save a 
great multitude, for more than one -half of the children 
born into the world die in infancy and early childhood 
and are thus saved. But let us return to God’s plan 
of saving those who are saved in adult age, which you 
treated with such levity a moment ago.” 

“Very well, Dr. Prescott, only you must be my 
Moses and approach the flashings of Sinai for me.” 

“I shall try to deal honestly with you, Miss Laura. 
I have said that all of the human race having violated 
God’s law are liable to the penalty. That penalty 
is death, and to suffer it means the enduring of unend- 
ing misery and anguish. In the richness of his mercy 
God has devised and executed a plan by which all the 
ends of justice may be met, his law fully honored, and 
the sinner who believes or trusts in the provided 
Savior may escape the penalty. The whole plan is 
given in the words of our Savior himself; For God so 
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but 
have everlasting life. 1 Because of the infinite excellence 
and merit of the Son of God, his willingly taking the 
place in law of all who are saved, and willingly 
obeying all the precepts of the law and suffering of its 
death penalty, God regards all who trust in Jesus as 
perfectly righteous and innocent in the eyes of the law. 
These trusting souls do not at first become free from 
sin. That is accomplished by 3'ears of struggle and 


1 John 3: 16. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


293 


sore conflict. But at first, at the very moment they 
believe, God regards them as innocent and righteous in 
the eyes of his law. 

“It may be illustrated in this way. A rough, ugly 
brass spoon is placed in a galvanic battery : a lump 
of silver is also placed in the same battery and the 
circuit is established. Particle by particle the silver is 
made by the electric current to cover the brass spoon, 
until it has a perfect coating of silver. So in the saving 
of the soul. When the electric current of faith is 
established between the soul and Christ the perfect 
coating of his righteousness covers completely the 
deficiencies of the soul, so that God’s law does not see 
anything save the bright silver covering of the right- 
eousness of the Son of God. The law has no curses to 
pronounce against the soul which is thus covered by 
the righteousness of Christ. There is therefore now no 
condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus . 1 

“A Spanish soldier was condemned to be shot. 
Escaping from the guard, he fled to the quarters of the 
United States Consul, and, rushing into his presence, 
he seized the flag of the great American nation and 
wound it about his body. He then had no fears of his 
pursuers. The flag was the representative of the 
United States, and to offer indignity to the flag would 
be to offer indignity to the nation it represented, and 
such indignity the condemned man knew would be 
avenged. The soul of the believer has the righteous- 
ness of Christ — by that, I mean his perfect obedience — 
wound about it. That obedience is the representative 
of heaven, or God’s government ; it is the obedience of 
the Son of the King eternal. To offer any indignity to 
that righteousness is to offer indignity to the King 

1 Romans, 8:1. 


294 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


himself. The law, therefore, is perfectly honored by the 
obedience which every believer presents before it.” 

“But, Dr. Prescott,” interrupted Laura, “admit- 
ting, for argument’s sake, that your book is what it 
claims to be and that men and women are saved 
according to your theory, is there not a confessed 
lowering of the standard of obedience required by the 
law, for the benefit of the so-called elect ? Does not one 
of your writers say, Abraham believed God and it — bis 
belief— was counted to him for righteousness 1 ? or his 
faith was accepted instead of perfect obedience ? As 
you have said, no one can perfectly obey the law. But 
is there not here a relaxing of the demands of the law 
for the benefit of the favored ones ? and is there not an 
acceptance of faith instead of obedience to the law’s 
commands ? ” 

“Not at all, Miss Laura. There is no relaxation 
of the requirements of the law. All believers do render 
perfect obedience to the law, in the person of their 
Representative and Substitute.” 

“Yes, sir, here comes in this substitute theory 
again. I have already said it is a strange proceeding 
for one who claims to be a just God. How in the name 
of reason and sound sense can it be just for a man who 
you say was absolutely sinless to obey and suffer in 
the place of a race of sinners, and for these sinners to 
reap the benefit of his obedience and suffering, as 
though it were their own personalty. I have always 
thought that it is the part of .strict justice to give to 
every man exactly what his conduct deserves.” 

“Let me remind you, first of all, Miss Laura, that 
‘there is no higher rule of justice than God himself. 2 ’ 
What the Judge of all the earth does must be right 3 

1 Rom. 4:3. 2 Dagg’s Manuel of Theology, p. 270. 3 Gen. 18: 25. 


FROM error’s chains. 295 

We have all through nature the most unmistakable 
evidence of God’s goodness, and when we see this 
goodness displayed all about us we must conclude that 
all that God does will be characterized by goodness, 
and, therefore, will result in no injustice to any of his 
creatures. He himself says of this plan of saving men, 
by one of the inspired writers, that believers are justi- 
fied freely by his grace, through the redemption that is 
is Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a 
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his 
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past 
through the forbearance of God ; to declare'at this time 
his righteousness; that he might be just and the justi- 
fier of him that believeth in Jesus . 1 ” 

“This all, Dr. Prescott, seems to be a very mixed 
up affair to me. It requires too great a mental effort 
to keep all these details straight.” 

“Not at all, Miss Laura. It is all comprehended in 
four words. Christ died for me. Men of all nations 
and in everj' age of the world have held to the idea 
of sacrifice. They have intuitively felt that the presen- 
tation of a slain victim to the gods was necessarv in 
order to turn away their anger from the sins of men. 
The idea in every sacrifice is the substitution of the 
pains and death of the victim in the place of the 
worshipper. This seems to be the handwriting of God 
upon the human heart. It seems to be an evidence 
of the divine approval of the idea of substitution in 
saving men. It seems to be a universal finger-board 
pointing to the great substitutionary sacrifice of God’s 
Son. 

“Again,” continued the pastor, “the idea of substi- 
tution, of some kind is everywhere recognized as just in 


1 Rom. 8: 24, 25, 28. 


296 


FROM KRROJpS CHAINS. 


human courts and human law. A man buys a piece 
of property and executes his note for the payment 
of the price of the same. Everybody knows he is 
insolvent and that his note is not worth the paper on 
which it is written. But there is an indorsement on 
the note by one who is perfectly solvent, and, in the 
eyes of the law, the obligation is regarded as perfectly 
good. Not because the man who originally assumed 
the obligation is good, for he and all of his neighbors 
know that he is insolvent ; but because the man who is 
surety is solvent, the paper is regarded as perfectly 
negotiable. In this plan of saving men the believing 
sinner is treated in the eyes of the law as perfectly 
solvent, not because he is so personally, for he is 
totally bankrupt in morals and knows it, but because 
of the perfect solvency of his divine substitute. ” 

“If I believed in such stuff as this, Dr. Prescott, I 
would take my fill of sin. My substitute would have 
goodness and holiness enough to cover up all of my 
badness. I would believe on him and leave all obedi- 
ence to law to him, and I would give myself to having 
a good time. My faith would be placed to my credit 
and my substitute would obey for me.” 

“Bless my soul, Laura, what a perfect little heathen 
you are! You shock me! indeed you do,” exclaimed 
the Judge. 

“All of which, Miss Laura, would clearly prove,” 
said Dr. Prescott, not noticing the interruption, “that 
you had never really trusted in Christ as your Savior. 
It is written, the just .shall live by faith . 1 Your actions 
would show that you were still dead in sin, the slave 
of .sin. If any one is in Christ Jesus he is a new 
creature— creation] — old things have passed away; 

1 Hab. 2: 4. Rom. 1 : 17. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


297 


behold all things are become new . 1 How shall we that 
are dead to sin live any longer therein ? Know ye not, 
that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, 
were baptized into his death ? Therefore we are 
buried with him by baptism unto death : that like as 
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the 
Father, even so we also should walk in newness 
of life . 2 A new life begins. The just — or those whom 
the King eternal declares just by reason of their rela- 
tion to his Son — shall live by faith. The meaning is 
not that there is anything in the exercise of faith 
itself to produce the new life. But faith is the hand 
which is reached out to lay hold of the new life. We 
say a man lives by begging, but we do not mean that 
the mere act of begging sustains his life. The meaning 
is that the food received by begging sustains his life. 
We say that man lives by breathing. The meaning is 
not that life is continued by the mere act of breathing, 
but by the oxygen received from the atmosphere by 
breathing. The just live, not by the act of faith, but 
by the merit of their Substitute which they take hold 
of by faith.” 

“You reason well, my dear sir,” said the Judge. “I 
am glad to have this faith matter explained.” 

“Realizing that Christ is his representative, con- 
tinued Dr. Prescott, “and that he has been saved by 
trusting in his merit, the believer will try to do that 
which pleases God. He will do this, not that he may 
be saved because he does it but because he has already 
been saved, and is grateful and loves Him by whose 
merit he has been saved.” 


1 2 Cor. 5: 17. 


2 Horn 0:1-4. 


298 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. 

“All nature is but art unknown to thee; 

All chance discretion, which thou cans’t not see; 
All discord harmony, not understood; 

All partial evil, universal good; 

And spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite, 

One truth is clear, whatever is is right.” 

— Popk. 


“I still contend, Dr. Prescott,” said Laura, “that, 
as these distinctions you make are so metaphysical 
and intangible, the best philosophy is to eat drink and 
be merry, for tomorrow we die ; to take our fill of that 
which you choose to call the pleasures of sin.” 

“But, Miss Laura, it requires very little of such a 
diet to fill one who is dead to sin and who loathes it 
with all his heart. He is engaged in a conflict with sin, 
and will avoid as much of it as he can.” 

“Then, sir, a truce to that question. I wish to 
hear what you have to say concerning the disagree- 
ment of your witnesses. You say that obedience to 
law cuts no figure at all in a man’s salvation. Paul, 
who seems to be your right-hand man, says the same 
in words like these, By the deeds of the law shall no 
flesh be justified in his sight . 1 But James speaks differ- 
ently. He says, By works a man is justified, and not 


1 Rom. 8:20. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS, 


299 


by faith only . 1 So, in his opinion, obedience or works 
does at least cut some figure in this becoming or being 
counted righteous.” 

“The disagreement, Miss Laura, is only apparent 
and not real. Paul and James are speaking of different 
things. If they are speaking of precisely the same 
thing then there is a hopeless disagreement between 
them. But Paul speaks of one thing and James 
of another. Paul is speaking of the real standing of a 
believing soul before God. He says that in the merit, 
and the suffering of punishment, which cause God to 
declare a believing soul righteous, the believer’s own 
personal obedience can have no share or place at all. 
The merit which secures this declaration of righteous- 
ness resides wholly in the substitute, and conies to the 
believer solely through faith and is apart from and 
independent of, any obedience to the law which the 
believer can render. James is speaking of a mere empty 
assent of the mind to the facts of redemption, which 
produced no change in the manner of living to indicate 
that there was a life of trust operating in the soul. It 
was an empty profession, a dead orthodoxy that 
James was speaking against. It was as if he should 
say to his readers, You say you have believed and so 
have been declared righteous by God, but your lives 
prove that you are strangers to that trust which alone 
secures justification. A man’s life must have that 
obedience which will always go with a ^trusting life.” 

‘‘Isn’t that rather far-fetched and fanciful, Dr. Pres- 
cott ? ” 

“I think not, Miss Laura. Let me illustrate. Sup- 
pose I should write a dissertation on military prowess, 
and, in the course of my paper, should say, ‘these 

1 Jains 2: 24. 


300 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


soldiers are valiant : there is power and courage in 
every movement.’ Suppose that my friend, Judge Nor- 
man, should also write a dissertation on military 
prowess, and, in his paper, should remark, ‘these 
, soldiers, though so perfectly formed and well equipped, 
cannot exert any power, and have no courage what- 
ever.’ In my paper the connection makes it clear that 
I am speaking of real living soldiers. In the Judge’s 
paper the connection makes it clear that he is speaking, 
not of real, living soldiers but, of the figures of soldiers 
in wax. There is no contradiction between us. He 
speaks of one thing and I of another. So Paul says 
that real trust will secure God’s declaration of right- 
eousness; while James says that an empty assent to 
the way of salvation will not secure this, for it lacks 
the evidences, in the life, of real trust in Christ. 

“Suppose someone should rush in here and tell our 
kind hostess that her beautiful residence on Meeting 
street is in flames and she should say, ‘yes, I believe 
you,’ but should sit still and make no effort to have the 
flames checked as far as possible, or should make no 
attempt to save any of her goods from the house. We 
would all conclude either that her mind was not in a 
perfectly sane condition, or that she did not believe the 
statement of the messenger. Her belief of his words 
would necessarily imply action, and her failure to act 
would imply the absence of faith. So as to those to 
whom James was speaking. A real trust in the Christ 
implies a life consistent with that trust. The}' did not 
have the life and activity necessarily implied by such a 
trust. Therefore they did not have that trust which 
alone secures the accounting to them of the righteous- 
ness of Christ.” 

“That’s a clincher, my dear sir ! That’s what I call 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


301 


a clincher !” exclaimed Judge Norman, highly pleased 
with Dr. Prescott’s explanation. 

“Again, if the court please,” said Laura, address- 
ing the Judge, “I suppose I must acknowledge my- 
self silenced but not convinced. I must confess that 
this whole theory of men being delivered from what 
3 " ou Christians call sin by a mere exercise of the mind 
seems to me to be a pure ethereal fancy, destined to 
melt ‘into air, into thin air,’ ‘like the baseless fabric 
of this vision’ which we call life. As 

•The cloud capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces, 

The solemn temples, the great globe Itself, 

Yea, all which It inherit, shall dissolve; 

And like this unsubstantial pageant faded, 

Leave riot a rack behind ; ’ l , 

so this ‘unsubstantial’ theory of imputation, and such 
like, shall ‘melt into thin air’ and ‘leave not a rack 
behind.’ Such are my sentiments, if the court please, 
and I intend to enjoy this ‘unsubstantial pageant’ 
while I may.” 

The animation of the fair 3^oung .skeptic gave point 
and force to the poisoned arrow which was thus sent 
ftying into the quivering heart of Julia Ashton ; and 
seeing this her uncle’s face grew ghastly pale, and an 
expression of intense anguish passed over his calm 
features. After a pause Dr. Prescott continued : 

“It gives me great pain, Miss Laura, to see you, so 
young and with such possibilities before you, treating 
divine things so lightly as you do.” 

“Sir, it seems to me that, to put the matter very 
mildl3vyou are guilty of the least bit of presumption. 
I do not claim a superabundance of that qualit3" called 
reverence, but I do have some reverence, and if I were 
assured of the truth of your presumption, that these 

1 “Tempest” Act XV., Sc. 1. 


302 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


theories are divine, if there be any divinity, I would 
heartily respect them.” 

“Such being your position, Miss Laura, the ques- 
tion to be considered with you is the claims of this 
Book, the Bible, as a revelation from God. That 
question we cannot now consider. You, however, are 
sufficiently familiar with history to understand what a 
large and powerful factor in the world’s written 
history, the Bible and its friends have been. The 
literature and influence of the Bible constitute by far 
the largest portion of the world’s written history. To 
trace its powerful influence over men we must go far 
back into the hoary past, almost to the time when the 
morning stars sang together and the sons of God 
shouted for joy 1 in the morning of creation. For long 
ages before the immortal strains of Homer and Hesiod 
thrilled the hearts of beauty-loving Greeks, the divine 
promises had been spoken ; the sceptre shall not depart 
from Judah, nor a law -giver from between his feet 
until Shiloh come ; 2 In thy seed shall all the nations 
. of the earth be blessed . 3 All along the centuries before 
and after the coming of the Christ the Bible and its 
friends have deeply and wonderfully stirred the ever- 
flowing current of humanity. The greatest contro- 
versies of the world, and the bloodiest battles that 
stain the page of history, have grown out of the 
tenacity with which men have held on to the teachings 
of this Book. That is truly wonderful. Can so much 
be said of any other book ? One of the most eminent 
and distinguished men I ever knew, realizing the 
importance of Christianity as a factor in history, 
required all of his children to study ‘The Christ 
of History, 4 ’ as a necessary part of their education, 

1 Job 88:7. 2 Gen. 49:10. 3 Gen. 22:18. 4 “The Christ of History,” by Young. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


303 


though he himself was not a believer in the divine 
origin of the Bible and Christianity. He felt that the 
education of no one would be complete unless 
thoroughly understanding the position of Christianity 
in history.” 

“I certainly admit as much, Dr. Prescott. I freely 
acknowledge that the Bible has been a conspicuous 
fadlor in history. Some superstitions seem to have a 
wonderful vitality, and a herculean hold upon human 
beings. Mohammedanism aro.se in the eighth century 
and spread widely and wildly, like some resistless 
mountain torrent, and but for the valor and heroism 
of Charlemague, it would doubtless have become a 
cosmopolitan superstition, and wiped from the earth 
the more ancient superstition of the Bible. So I cheer- 
fully admit all that your eminent friend admitted, that 
the Bible has had a conspicuous place in the world’s 
history, but I most respectfully decline to accept your 
deductions from this fact.” 

“Which, Miss Laura, in view of the power of Bible 
truth to also change and elevate character, I most 
respectfully suggest is quite inconsistent. Superstition 
has never so impressed history as the Bible. This 
Book has been opposed by every power that could be 
devised by human ingenuity. But despite the bitterest 
opposition it has moved on steadily in its majestic 
course, overcoming the opposition of some of its 
bitterest enemies in a change of their character, 
impressing itself upon communities and nations, and 
elevating and beautifying individual and national 
character, so that even the infidel historian, Gibbon, 
is constrained to say, ‘Truth and candor must ac- 
knowledge, that the conversion of the .North imparted 
many temporal benefits both to the old and the new 


304 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Christians. . . The establishment of law and order 
was promoted by the influence of the clergy ; and the 
rudiments of art and science were introduced into 
savage countries of the globe. 1 ’ He is speaking of cer- 
tain degraded nations of Europe converted to nominal 
Christianity. Though this admission falls far short 
of the whole truth, setting Christianity down as a 
promoting and preserving force in civilization it yet 
shows that the religion of the Bible was a force which 
he could not ignore. What I wished to say, however, 
is that the different truths of the Bible have been the 
battle-ground of some of the greatest controversies 
of history and out of these controversies often arose 
some of the bloodiest battles of the world. 

“This very doctrine of which we have been 
speaking — the manner in which God declares men 
righteous — was the central idea in the great religious 
and civil revolution of the sixteenth century. When 
Christianity became the imperial religion in the fourth 
century, and began to lean upon civil power for 
support, its moral power began to decay, that is, the 
moral power of the establishment. More and more it 
came to be held and taught that external forms 
affected the spiritual status of men, until there was 
developed the great Roman and Greek hierchies as they 
existed in the sixteenth century. In these state relig- 
ions, with their heads respectively in the bishops 
of Rome and Constantinople, there was a great mass 
of forms and ceremonies, and the punctilious observ- 
ance of all these was held and taught to be sufficient to 
procure the acquittal of the soul from the demands 
of the moral law for perfect obedience. Under this 
mass of formality the Bible doctrine of how God 

1 “Decline and Fall,” Chap. LV., last paragraph. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


305 


declares a sinner righteous was buried out of sight. 
The most outrageous sale of indulgences in which the 
cupidity of corrupt church dignitaries sought to 
gratify itself, by leading the devotees to believe they 
could be freed from the penalty due to so many sins by 
paying sums of money, stirred up a man whose moral 
heroism shook all Germ an y and the world. This was 
an obscure Augustinian monk whose menial office was 
to go from house to house and beg for charity to 
support his order. His name was Martin Luther. He 
happened one day to find a Latin copy of the New 
Testament, to which, strange to say, he was an entire 
stranger. His eyes fell upon the words, in Paul’s letter 
to the Romans, The just shall live by faith . 1 They 
startled him. He could not free himself from them. 
They rang in his ears during the day and he could hear 
their reverberations during the silent hours of the 
night. He determined to make a visit to Rome, which 
• he supposed to be the fountain head of piety. To his 
astonishment he found it a cess -pool of iniquity. The 
dignitaries of the Romish organization were men 
of notorious^ immoral and dissolute lives. But 
Luther was still ‘a mad Papist,’ as he himself says; 
and while in Rome he began to ascend upon his knees 
Pilate’s stairway in St. Peter’s, in order to obtain 
release from one thousand years’ suffering in purga- 
torjq which the Pope had promised to every one who 
should ascend this stair-way upon his knees. 

“While thus engaged he seemed to hear a voice 
speaking to him and saying, The just shall live by 
faith. He arose, ashamed of the degradation into 
which blind devotion to a dead church had plunged 
him, and, by the grace of God and the aid of his Spirit, 


1 Rom. 1:17. 


306 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


he was able to break away from the shackles by which 
he was bound and to become the apostle of the buried 
doctrine, that men are justified by faith alone, without 
the forms of Romanism, or any of the manipulations 
of priest, cardinal or Pope. Although Luther incor- 
porated into his work many un - Scriptural ideas which 
were prevalent and deep seated — such as the defence 
of religion by sword and army, infant baptism, 
sprinkling for baptism — yet he did hold up before all 
Europe, as it had never been held up before since 
Apostolic times, this important truth, that a man is 
declared righteous by reason of the merit and suffering 
of Jesus, received by the hand of faith. It is a vital 
truth, for in it alone is seen the vindication of the jus- 
tice of God in the plan which he has devised for saving 
men from sin and ruin. Luther has truly declared that 
the proper apprehension of this truth is the mark of a 
standing or falling church. The great work of the 
reformation, inaugurated and carried on mainly by the 1 
influence of this man, was the raising up of this, truth 
which had been buried out of sight by the debris 
of ages. 

“But,” continued Dr. Prescott, “there was a people, 
outside of Rome and independent of the Reformation, 
who held this doctrine in its Scriptural form, and who 
ever repudiated the errors from which Luther could 
not entirely break awav. They were so bitterly hated 
and persecuted by the Romanists, and later by the 
Protestants themselves, that they were hidden away 
in obscurity from the world. They were ‘the se<5l 
everywhere spoken against,’ poor in goods and influ- 
ence, but rich in faith, and the salt of the earth.”' 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


307 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

ROME’S ARGUMENTS. 

“Wherever God erects a house of prayer. 

The Devil always builds a chapel there.” 

— DeFoe; The True-born Englishman. 

Ere the invalid girl returned to her own home, 
Ashton Hall, her heart was made sad by the intelli- 
gence of two deaths, and in her feverish imagination 
and distressing spiritual unrest, she thought of the two 
new-made graves as precursors of her own early 
sleeping among the silent majority. 

Mrs. Norton, after weeks of suffering, had passed 
quietly and calmly into the rest of God’s people. As 
her bod3 r was laid away in its last resting place Dr. 
Prescott had spoken to the large congregation most 
pathetically of the consolations in those sweet words 
of the Apostle John, spoken amidst the splendors 
of the visions of the last days, which he saw. He said, 
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, 
Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from 
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
from their labors and their works do follow them . 1 

In two short weeks the death angel hovered over 
the pastor’s home and his sweet, amiable wife, his 
inspiration, his joy, closed her eyes and fell asleep on a 


1 Rev. 14: 18. 


308 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


beautiful Lord’s Day morning, as a weary child sinks 
into rest upon its mother’s bosom. As the bright June 
morning of God’s Day was kissing the world with its 
rosy tints angels bore her away and she went up to 
behold the King in his beauty . 1 How the wild billows 
of sorrow surged over the soul of this man of God, as 
he was left weeping over the cold casket of clay, with 
an infant two months old and a son of four summers ! 
In the wild agony of his grief the words of the sweet 
Psalmist of Israel were often in his mind, All thy 
waves and thy billows are gone over me . 2 

In a letter to her uncle, Julia wrote: “I find it 
exceedingly difficult, dear uncle, to realize that Mrs. 
Prescott is with us no longer. Sometimes I think that 
the whole story must be some horrible dream from 
which I may soon be awakened and have the painful 
sensations dissipated by the light of day. But no ; it is 
real ! She sleeps beneath the greensward and her spirit 
is at rest. I feel as though there is but a step between 
me and the grave, and that perhaps I too shall soon be 
among the silent sleepers in the cemetery. But, ah me ! 
if my spirit were at rest, how sweet it would be to 
leave this suffering body ! I fear this strange mystery 
of death, yet the sweet repose which it seems to offer 
gives it a weird fascination for me.” 

The weeks and months passed. Julia Ashton 
returned to the lovely home of her uncle in the 
mountain city, but her health continued frail. She 
seemed indeed to be slowly fading like some fair flower 
under the influence of autumn’s increasing chilliness. 

Later the frail little bud in the pastor’s home 
closed its delicate petals and it was laid beside the 
withered parent flower. 

1 Isa. 83: 17. 2 Psa42:7. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


309 


“Insatiate archer! could not one suffice? 

Thy shaft flew thrice, and thrice my peace was slain.” 

Another event of interest occurred during Julia’s 
absence. Will Mortimer came before the church, 
related the terrible struggle of his soul with skepticism, 
to which reference has been made before in our nar- 
rative, his delivery from the enemy’s hand and 
expressed his trust in Christ as his personal Savior and 
his purpose to consecrate his life and energy to the 
service. He was received into the full fellowship of the 
church and had been buried with Christ in baptism” hy 
Dr. Prescott. He is now a Christian lawyer, honored 
and respected by a large circle of friends in the city. 

At this time Julia Ashton’s health is the occasion 
of serious anxiety to many friends. But those most 
intimately associated with her are persuaded that the 
spiritual conflict in her soul is the chief source of her 
continued frail health. Mr. Ashton and young Morti- 
mer, without any special agreement, have resolved to 
make more earnest prayer in her behalf, that the peace 
of God may overwhelm her soul and sweep away every 
difficulty and doubt, that the Holy Spirit may shine 
into her heart and chase away all the dark shadows. 

While these influences are being woven about her 
for her spiritual deliverance, the infernal powers seem 
leagued together to defeat the hopes of her friends and 
more secure^ 7 enchain her troubled heart. 

The mails had recently brought the intelligence 
that a bachelor uncle of Julia, her mother’s wandering 
brother, had died in Cuba immensely rich. He had 
no other relatives than Julia Ashton, and one -half 
of his estate, valued at a million dollars, became her 
property in fee simple. Norman and Mortimer had 
been employed to secure the transfer of the estate, and 


310 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


they have just placed Julia in possession of a fortune 
of a half million dollars. The other half of the estate 
had been bequeathed to the Roman Catholic organi- 
zation of which the uncle was a faithful devotee. 

The covetous eyes of the dignitaries of this organi- 
zation had been fixed upon the other half of this 
fortune, and they anxiously desired to turn Julia 
Ashton’s fortune also into the coffers of “The 
Church,” so called. Plans were laid for the accom- 
plishment of this end and the .conversion of Julia 
Ashton to the Catholic faith. It may be well for the 
reader to be informed that this entire fortune would 
have been secured by Rome had not the will been 
confided to an honorable non -Catholic attorney in 
Cuba who resolutely determined that the terms of the 
legacy should be respected. 

A Catholic fellow -prisoner of Ralph Norton had 
learned much of Julia Ashton and more particularly 
of her perturbation of soul in reference to religion. 
This knowledge, secured, from Ralph, was communi- 
cated to the priest, who was regularly admitted to 
confess Catholic prisoners. The same was passed to 
the bishop, who had also received tidings from Cuba 
as to the desirability of Miss Ashton’s conversion to 
the Catholic faith. 

Very suddenly the sympathy of Mr. Ashton’s new 
Catholic cook, Mollie Malony, was aroused in behalf 
of the young lady, and often, in the tenderest manner 
of which her coarse nature was capable, she would 
assure Julia of her interest and her desire that her soul 
might be saved. So deeply and mercilessly had the 
steel entered the soul of the troubled girl that she 
gratefully received sympathy from any one, but the 
quaint wishes of Mollie that one of the “holy sisters” 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


311 


might talk with her and help her to relief were rather 
amusing than otherwise to her. In vain did the 
servant girl plead with Julia, “just to have one talk 
with one of the holy sisters, who understand such cases 
as yours and can point you to rest.” 

“Oi knows they can, Miss Julia! Oi knows they 
can quiet the loikes of ves . so easily !” .she exclaimed 
with righteous vehemence. 

“I thank you, Mollie, for your sympathy, but you 
are mistaken. I am sure nry uncle knows as much 
about me and loves me as well as any one can, and he 
cannot lift the weight from my soul. Indeed I know 
that no human being can administer to any soul in 
distress.” 

“Indade, Miss, Oi knows that.. But the holy 
sisters can lead yes to where yes can find relief.” 

“A truce to that subject, Mollie. Your sympathy 
is grateful to me, but your judgment is decidedly at 
fault. I have no confidence in the remedy you pro- 
pose,” and she would dismiss the servant. But the 
more the morbid mind of the young lady dwelt upon 
the words of Mollie the more she wondered what 
would be the Catholic plan for relieving her soul of its 
anxiety. Then she would dismiss the matter as 
supremely absurd, thinking within herself: 

“Uncle knows all about the way of obtaining 
religion, if there is any such thing. He has the Bible, 
and if there is any reality in its teachings he has 
experienced it. And if indeed the whole thing is a 
superstition, as my friend Laura suggests, it must be a 
most delightful and comforting superstition, for it is 
the very staff of life to uncle, and I know he is honest.” 

The clays passed without producing any change 
in the spiritual life of Julia. The Catholic servant 


312 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


persisted in putting in words of the “holy sisters” at 
every convenient and inconvenient season. 

In the afternoon of a bright day in May Miss 
Ashton was out walking, and passing the home of a 
respectable Catholic neighbor, with whom she was 
well acquainted, she stopped a few moments to 
inquire after her health. Here she met one of the “holy 
sisters” who was in town looking after the faithful 
of the “holy church.” Miss Ashton’s difficulties and 
condition seemed to be thoroughly understood by this 
nameless sister, especially that part of her condition in 
which there had been placed in her name a fortune 
which “the Church” desired. 

The “sister” greeted her in the most cordial man- 
ner, and, in most fascinating and affectionate words, 
expressed her great pleasure in meeting such an 
amiable young lady. 

“I have heard of you, Miss Ashton, and have long 
desired to make 3^our acquaintance. Now, that I have 
that pleasure, my joy is complete. I regret to hear 
from some of your friends that you have failed to find 
that repose of soul which you have sought for a long 
time. This is not at all astonishing, dear lady, for you 
have sought for this outside of the ‘holy Catholic 
Church.’ There is no rest for any one outside, of the 
pale of the ‘Church,’ which was established by Christ, 
and from which all Protestants have defiantly broken 
away.” 

“I do not believe the ‘Catholic church’ is the Church 
of Christ at all,” said Miss Ashton. “I have often 
heard that the ‘Catholic Church’ has perverted the 
truths of the Bible, forbidden people to read God’s 
book, and even persecuted and killed many of God’s 
people. Of course, I do not charge these things upon 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


313 


you personally, nor upon my neighbor here, but I have 
learned from history that they are true of your 
“Church.” 

“Yes, my dear lady, there are these and many other 
things which are charged upon the ‘holy Catholic 
Church’ which are not true. These things which you 
have read were written by Protestants. Our enemies 
misrepresent us. Remember the fable in which a man 
and lion meeting, spoke of a statue in which a man 
was represented as overcoming a lion. The king of the 
forest remarked, ‘If it had been chiseled by a lion, the 
lion and not the man would have been the victor.’ 
If these things had been written by Catholics they 
would have been different. How easily might you, my 
sweet friend, find the peace of soul which you seek by 
observing all the forms of ‘the Church,’ by taking upon 
yourself a vow of devotion to the work of doing good 
to others, relieving the suffering, ministering to the 
sick and distressed, and thus retiring from the world 
and giving ^^ourself to these works of mercy. You 
know from your own experience no doubt how sweet 
is the pleasure of doing a kind act for some one needing 
it. You have wealth, and so there is given you the 
power of doing great good. If only you would take 
the vows of consecration, and retire into the bosom 
of ‘the holy Church,’ and devote yourself to a life 
of piety I am sure you would soon be at perfect rest, 
and that is what you are seeking.” 

“I know, sister Agnes (for I believe that is what I 
am to call you), that there is a very great pleasure in 
doing good to others, and I intend to have the luxury 
of showing much kindness to my needy friends, but I 
beg permission to differ with you as to the restfulness 
of becoming a Catholic and observing the absurd 


314 from error’s chains. . 

forms commanded by Catholics. Jesus says, Come 
unto me — not unto the forms of any church, but unto 
me — all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will 
give you rest . 1 You teach me to come to the ‘ Church,’ 
to its forms, in order to find rest. I am persuaded that 
something more than the externals of religion is 
necessary to give rest to the soul. I am sure that my 
case needs more heroic treatment than you propose. I 
am, however, well nigh desperate, and would gladly 
do anything that offered a reasonable promise of relief 
from wretchedness. I tried the pleasures of the world 
and found them to be only a hollow mockery, apples 
of Sodom, turning to ashes at my touch.” 

“Of course, dear Miss Ashton, there is no rest for 
the soul in the hollow pleasures of life. But there is 
rest for 3 r ou in ‘the Church.’ It was established by 
Jesus, and when you come into the Church, you come 
to Jesus and find rest for your soul.” 

‘‘But you forget, do you not, that the Lord him- 
self makes peace to depend upon a complete change 
within us ? Except a man be born again he cannot sec 
the kingdom of God . 2 Wonder not that I said unto 
thee, Ye must be born again . 3 My uncle and many 
good people believe that our Lord was here speaking 
of a great moral change in the soul. Do not these 
words teach that such a spiritual change is needed?” 

“Bless you, Miss Ashton, we always go to the 
‘hoty father’ for the meaning of the Bible. lie is God’s 
interpreter for us. He could tell you all about the 
meaning of these words. But I am sure you can find 
peace by living in the ‘holy Church’ and receiving its 
teaching.” 

“Yes, and by going to Rome and kissing the Pope’s 

1 Matt. 11:28. 2 John 3:8. 3 John 8:7. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


315 


toe, and buying some of the bones of the ‘holy 
Apostles,’ and giving to Peter’s pence, and going up 
Pilate’s stairway on my knees as Luther set out to do. 
I am surprised that intelligent people, like some of you 
are, can believe in all these absurd performances.” 

“Oh, dear Miss Ashton, you do us a great wrong 
in speaking of the teachings of the ‘holy Church’ as 
absurd. We find in them rest and joy and conso- 
lation.” 

“So you place these forms and the teachings of a 
human priest between the soul and its Savior. In the 
Scriptures Christ says, by his prophet, look unto me , 
and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God 
and there is none else . 1 But you say look to the forms 
of religion, look to ‘the Church,’ look to the priest.” 

“Indeed, my dear Miss Ashton, you persist in 
misunderstanding us. All these things are but helps to 
us to get to the Son of the Holy Mother. We always 
use any needed helps in securing other things we need. 
We use these things merely as aids. The holy father 
explains religion. We ask living friends to help us 
sometimes, and in this way we ask holy angels and 
saints and departed friends and the holy Mother to 
help us, to intercede for us — to speak to the Son and 
the Father in our behalf. We use pictures and images 
to bring vividly before our minds the things which 
they represent. — But here comes holy father McLemore. 
Would you object to meeting him ? He is so pious and 
skillful in helping people out of trouble.” 

“As I cannot now retreat I will wait a few 
moments longer before taking my leave.” 

The priest entered and after an introduction to 
Miss Ashton, “sister Agnes” said : 

1 Isa. 45: 22. 


316 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


“Father McLemore, here is a little heretic, who is 
pining away like a fading flower because she has been 
seeking peace and has failed to find it. She cannot be 
persuaded to accept the rest and joy of religion which I 
have assured her can surely be found in the bosom 
of ‘the holy mother Church/ Can you not add the 
power of your persuasion and entreaty ? ” 

“I shall be happy to give Miss Ashton any assist- 
ance that may lie within my power.” 

“I thank you, sir,” said Miss Ashton, “for your 
proffered aid, but I do not think you need make any 
exertions on my behalf. I do not desire any further 
conversation respecting myself. I merely stopped in 
here a moment to see my friend and unexpectedly met 
this lady, whom 3^011 call sister Agnes. She at once 
took me in hand and tried to make a Catholic of me, 
but found me an incorrigible heretic.” 

“Well, Miss Ashton, as it is positive^ refreshing to 
me to meet occasionally an incorrigible heretic, as 3 r ou 
term yourself, I am truly glad that I called in here to 
spend the short time at my disposal before my train is 
due. It is also an unexpected pleasure to have the 
honor of an acquaintance with Miss Ashton.” 

“I was just trying to explain to Miss Ashton,” said 
the nun, “that the forms and teachings of our ‘holy 
Church’ are ever read} 7 and sufficient to furnish joy to 
every disturbed soul. But she persists in placing 
certain teachings of the Bible in antagonism with 
what I assured her of ‘the holy Church.’ She urges 
that these words, which I believe are in the New 
Testament, Ye must be born again, mean a change in 
the soul which must take place independently of the 
church.” 

“No wonder Miss Ashton gets into trouble. All 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


317 


who try to understand that Book, which is to be 
interpreted by ‘the Church,’ will get into trouble. It is 
to be understood according to the interpretation 
of those who are the successors of St. Peter. Jesus 
gave to Peter the keys, that is, among other things, the 
keys to the mysteries of the Bible.” 

“Am I then to understand,” asked Miss Ashton, 
“that the Bible is to be a sealed book to everybody 
except the priests and bishop and pope ? Is it true 
that no one can understand it except these ? arfd that 
they alone are the infallible interpreters of God’s word ? 
Is this what I am to understand from your language?” 

“We are not cpiite so presumptuous as that, Miss 
Ashton, but nevertheless believe that ‘the Church’ is 
the interpreter of the Bible. Jesus said to Peter, Thou 
art Peter, and upon this rock — that is upon Peter — I 
will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not 
prevail against it . 1 Upon Peter and his successors is 
‘the Church’ built, and they are to be the interpreters 
of the Scriptures for the members. Now, that you are 
to come to the Church to receive rest and peace, or for 
that change spoken of in the Scriptures, is taught in 
the same connection, by the Son of Mary himself. Does 
he not say, except a man be born of water and of the 
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God . 2 
Here he places baptism, or entrance into ‘the Church’ 
first, and then comes the birth of the Spirit, or the rest 
of Spirit which is found inside of ‘the Church,’ or king- 
dom of God.” 

“But, sir, as you have mentioned that Scripture, 
let me remind you of the fact that the best and most 
learned Biblical scholars deny that this expression, 
‘born of water,’ contains any reference to baptism. 


1 Matt. 10: IS. 


2 John 3: 6. 


318 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


They say that the expression is synomnnous with the 
other clause, ‘born of the Spirit ; ’ that ‘born of water 
and of the Spirit’ are two expressions of the same 
idea — the spiritual birth. This, they say, is clearly in 
imitation of the Hebrew parallelism, which, frequently 
repeats the same idea in two different forms. There is 
a similar expression elsewhere in the New Testament. 
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, 
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the 
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost . 1 Here, as in the words of our Lord, the 
‘washing of regeneration’ denotes the cleansing nature 
of the great moral change spoken of, and ‘renewing 
of the Hoh r Ghost’ brings to view the Agency by which 
this change is accomplished. ‘Born of water’ calls 
attention to the purifying nature of the change and 
‘born of the Spirit’ brings to notice the Agent who 
accomplishes the change.” 

‘‘I am sorry, my dear Miss Ashton, to spoil your 
pretty theory, but this whole matter of a change 
of nature, prated about by so many so-called relig- 
ionists, is utterly absurd, and is due to a misunder- 
standing of the words of the New Testament. All that 
is meant, all that can be meant, is a change in the 
manner of life. First, follow all the outward teachings 
of piety, enter the holy enclosure of ‘the Church,’ deter- 
mine to change your life and give all to deeds of benev- 
olence, work day after day in the relief of the suffering, 
and in the salvation of the ungodly and you are in the 
road to heaven. It is all described in the words 
of Daniel to the king of Babylon ; Break off thy sins by 
righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy 
to the poor . 2 We are traveling in one direction; we 

1 Titus 8:5. 2 Dan. 4:27. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


319 


have only to face about, get in ‘the Church’ and thus 
set out in the opposite direction.” 

“Your teaching, sir, seems quite different from the 
words of the New Testament. There it is said, If any 
man be in Christ he is a new creature : old things have 
passed away; behold, all things are become new . 1 
That seems to me to indicate a very radical and com- 
plete change. It is spoken of as a new creation .” 

“Again, Miss Ashton, I say to you that these 
things are to be explained and interpreted by The 
Church,’ not by individuals. You give yourself unnec- 
sary trouble trying to understand them for yourself. 
You need a spiritual adviser, just as a sick man needs a 
medical adviser. These words here, ‘in Christ’ are 
synonymous with being ‘in the Church,’ and being ‘in 
the Church’ is synonymous with and precisely the 
same thing as being ‘in Christ 2 ’ And, of course there 
is no Church but ‘the holy Catholic Church.’ ” 

“That, sir, seems to me to be an outrageously pre- 
sumptuous claim. You then consign all the good and 
pious people outside of the Catholic Church to the 
flames of unending torment. Being out of ‘the Church’ 
they are out of Christ, and so, you would say, they are 
unsaved.” 

“We leave our good Protestant friends, dear Miss 
Ashton, to the uncovenanted mercies of God. We dare 
not risk any assertions as to their future state. But I 
cannot prolong mv visit, for I have now only ten 
minutes in which to catch my train. I wish you good 
evening, ladies.” 

‘‘I too must close my visit,” said Miss Ashton, 
addressing her friend, “for a storm seems to be gather- 

1 2 Cor. 5: 17. 2 The author once heard an Episcopal rector, in a public 

service, make this assertion. 


320 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS 


ing, and I must hurry home. Indeed, I should have 
been there long ere this.” 

As Miss Ashton was passing down a quiet back 
street which was unfrequented and which was known 
by her neighbors to be a favorite walk of hers, two men 
suddenly stepped out of a place of concealment, laid 
fast hold of her, and before she could think she was 
gagged, quickly placed in a closed carriage and driven 
off as swiftly as a fleet pair of horses could move. She 
was driven to a little unfrequented coaling station 
three miles from the city and assisted into the next 
train, two hours later, by two ‘sisters’ of charity, one 
of whom she recognized as ‘sister Agnes’ with whom 
she had conversed during the afternoon. The unfor- 
tunate girl was kept in such a condition that she could 
not speak to anyone, the ‘sisters’ explaining to those 
about them that she was insane and they were con- 
veying her to an asylum where she would be cared for. 
At midnight they changed cars, and at daylight they 
were driven in a closed carriage over the cobble-stones 
of the streets of some city, whither , the wondering girl 
knew not. For hours, it seemed to Miss Ashton, the 
carriage rattled over the stony streets and at last came 
to a stand. Assisted by the ‘sisters,’ for she was weak 
and faint from fright and loss of sleep, Julia Ashton 
was conducted through a large gateway, which was 
immediately closed by the immense shutter and bolted, 
along a walk of beautiful gravel bordered by the 
loveliest flowers and rare shrubs, up large stone steps, 
through a massive door and into a most elegant 
apartment. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


321 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


OPINIONS OF RELIGION. 

“The consciousness of faith, of sins forgiven, 

Of wrath appeased, of heavy guilt thrown off, 

Sheds on my breast its long forgotten peace, 

And shining steadfast as the noonday sun, 

Lights me along the path that duty marks.” 

— L. J. Hall, Miriam. 

Here Julia Ashton was released from her bonds and 
introduced to a splendid looking woman, dressed in 
nun’s attire, who entered the apartment from another 
door, and smilingly accosted her as she took both the 
young lady’s hands in hers. 

“This, dear Miss Ashton, is the Mother Superior 
of our quiet retreat, who loves devotedly to care for 
and relieve all who are in any way troubled,” said the 
nun who has already been mentioned as “sister 
Agnes.” 

“Here we retire from the rush and bustle of life and 
give ourselves to the practice of piety and are as happy 
as the sunny days are long,” continued the same nun. 

“How glad I am to see and know you, dear Miss 
Ashton. It always gives me pleasure to counsel and 
aid those who inquire after the consolations of piety,” 
said the Abbess. 

“Now let me bid you a most affectionate welcome 
to the hospitality of this sweet home of our sisterhood. 


322 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Here, whenever you wish, you ean enjoy music, or 
romp among the flowers, or read serious books" or jolly 
books as your fancy may direct. To everything our 
home affords you are most welcome.” 

“Where, I suppose, I am to remain a prisoner, for 
what, purpose I know not. I am here against my will. 
Your ‘hospitality’ is forced upon me; and I do not even 
know where I am.” 

“You are weary and faint now, dear Miss Ashton. 
Come, take a sip of wine to revive }^our spirits, and 
you will then relish and enjoy your breakfast. Later 
we can talk about other things.” 

As she said this the Abbess poured a small quan- 
tity of wine into a wine glass and pressed it to Julia’s 
lips. She drank it, because she felt herself insufficient 
for any kind of physical resistance, and then followed 
the elegant Abbess into the dining hall where the 
sisterhood of the “Sacred Heart” had assembled for 
breakfast. At every plate the knife and fork were 
crossed. Each nun reverently made the sign of the 
cross on her breast with her finger, repeated an “Ave 
Maria” or offered a prayer to the “holy virgin,” 
bowed to the crucifix, and again making the sign 
of the cross took her seat. To all these forms Julia 
was a silent witness, taking her seat when the nuns 
were ready to sit down. 

“May I now ask you, Mother Superior (for I know 
not how else to address you),” said Julia when she was 
again alone with the Abbess, “why I was brought here 
by force ? It seems very strange indeed that I should 
have’been violently seized in broad daylight in my own 
town and brought here against my will.” 

“My dear Mi3s Ashton, some of your truest 
friends, who love you most tetiderly, feared your soul 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


323 


would be endangered if you were left out of the influ- 
enees of ‘the holy Church,’ and took this method 
of bringing you under the power of these influences by 
which alone you can be saved.” 

“But why should any one try to save my soul by 
force ? Does God approve of any such method of forc- 
ing religion upon any one, if indeed you have any 
of that article among your number ? ” 

“Love, dear sister, will attempt anything for 
saving a soul. Rather than see your soul in great 
danger you have been brought here to see the influence 
and power of the teachings of ‘the holv Church’ to give 
peace to the soul. Here you may And rest if only you 
will have it.” 

“I am not a child,” replied Julia, “that I should be 
satisfied by these empty forms which you practice. 
Piety, I am sure, depends upon the state of the heart 
and not upon any or all external performances. Unless 
I am greatly mistaken, it depends upon a work 
wrought within the soul. What do the Scriptures say ? 
A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put 
within you ; and I will take away the stony heart out 
of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh . 1 The 
heart was considered the seat of the affections, and to 
take away the stony heart, and give a new heart or a 
heart of flesh, implies, it seems to me, a complete 
change of the affections. I will put my law in their 
inward parts, and write it in their hearts ; and will be 
their God, and they shall be my people * 2 The writing 
of God’s law in the heart means the implanting of an 
entirely new principle of action, I think. This the Bible 
teaches is to be done by divine power. God, who com- 
manded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined 

1 Ezek. 36 : 20. 2Jur.81:88.- 


324 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge 
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 1 I must 
confess that I am entirely a stranger to the experiences 
here mentioned, knowing nothing of them personally, 
but these are some of the portions of the Bible which 1 
remember. Mother, haven’t you a Bible here? Let me 
read to you from God’s Book.” 

“Bless you, child, no. The ‘holy fathers,’ his holi- 
ness, the pope, the bishops, and priests, read the Bible 
for us and explain it.” 

“Then let me ask you about two other passages 
which I remember. And you hath he quickened, who 
were dead in trespasses and sins. 2 But God, who is 
rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved us, 
even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us 
together with Christ. 3 Now, unless the Bible is indeed 
a myth, and unless religion is entirely a farce, as I am 
sometimes tempted to believe when I see how hollow 
and empty are your pretensions, there is a deep work 
performed within the soul. Of one thing I am quite 
sure. The Bible clearly teaches this fact.” 

“But, my dear Miss Ashton, I wish you to enjoy 
rest and quiet before you think more of these things. 
You need much rest before you can be entirely 3 ^our- 
self again.” 

While Julia Ashton was imprisoned within the 
walls of the convent of the “Sacred Heart,” her spirit 
chafing against the two-fold incarceration which shut 
her in — the unseen fetters which bound and restrained 
her from the light and liberty of the children of God, 
and the frowning convent walls which deprived her 
of personal freedom — her pastor, Dr. Prescott, was 
earnestly unfolding the way of freedom and life to an- 

12 Cor. 4:6. 2Eph.2:l. 8 Eph. 2:4, 5. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


325 


other doubly imprisoned prisoner in the same beautiful 
southern city, for this is the location of the State 
prison. 

Ralph Norton, the hardened criminal, lies in his cell, 
smitten with disease, and on the very verge of the un- 
seen world. As the black record of his crimes passes in 
review before him he cries out in wild delirium : 

“No hope, vsir! No hope! I have sinned away my 
day of grace. Too late! Too late! There is now no 
mercy for me.” 

“Remember, Ralph,” said the good man, “that our 
Lord saved a great sinner in the very jaws of death. 
While suffering on the cross he said to the repentant 
robber, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise . 1 He 
is the same loving compassionate Savior today. He 
ever liveth to make intercession for us . 2 He is the 
same yesterday, and today, and forever. ? You have 
only to believe in him and be saved.” 

“But sir,” said the dying man, “I have now no 
time to reform my life. I must die and there is no 
opportunity for me to live a life of obedience. If I 
could just have a few years more in which to carry out 
my good purpose, then I would now resolve to break 
off from sin and obey God’s law, and I might have 
some hope. But there is no time. Oh, sir, it is too 
late! too late!'' 

“My friend, you have a wrong idea of God’s way 
of saving from sin. It does not consist in a purpose to 
live right, nor in any attempted reformation of the 
outward life. It is a personal trust in Jesus as our 
Savior.” 

“What, sir! Is not religion a purpose to turn from 
sin ? Is it not a reformation of the life ? Is it not a 

1 Luke 23: 48. 2 Heb. 7 : 25. 8 Heb. 13: 8. 


326 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


strict performance of all the requirements and rules 
of the church? Is not this religion? And I have so 
little time for all this, which my comrade there has 
been telling me is all of religion. Oh, sir, tell me the 
way of life! Tell me quickly, for I must soon be gone.” 

“Listen, then, attentively,” said Dr. Prescott, after 
the dying man had rested a few moments, “and I will 
try to tell y^ou how it is. In religion or the renewing 
of the soul there is indeed a desire and purpose to 
forsake sin and obey^ God’s law, and there will be a 
change in the manner of life, an entire reformation 
of the conduct, and a careful regard for the appoint- 
ments of religion, baptism and the Lord’s Supper — 
when they are possible. But these are merely^ the shell 
of religion, its outside. Religion is a change in the 
heart which no man can see. It is the laying down 
of all enmity and opposition in our hearts to God and 
the beginning of love for him in the soul. The thing 
of most importance for you to know and do now is to 
trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. At the very 
moment you heartily trust Jesus your heart will be 
renewed, your affections will be changed, your will and 
desires will be made new, the whole current of your 
feelings will be reversed. Try to say from your heart, 

Here, Lord, I give myself to thee ; 

’Tis all that I can do. 

Lord save me . 1 If I perish, I will perish crying for 
mercy. 

I can but perish if I go; 

I am resolved to try ; 

For if I stay away I know 
I must forever die. 

No poor soul ever did or ever will perish coming to the 
Lord in this way. Cast away all your thoughts of a 


1 Matt. 14:30. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


327 


grand purpose, a reformation of life, observance 
of church rites, and fall upon this promise of the Lord, 
Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out . 1 
Feel that these words were spoken to you and for you. 
Lay hold of them.” 

“I see it all now. How sweet! How bright is the 
old prison! What joy fills my soul! Oh, Lord Jesus, 
I thank thee for this infinite love to a wretch like me ! 
Oh, sir, I cannot tell you what sweet joy now fills my 
soul!” exclaimed the dying man, and a radiant smile 
lighted up his wan features, as he rested upon his rude 
bed* with his new found hope thrilling his soul, calmly 
awaiting the end. Who can doubt that Jesus was in 
that prison cell and opened the prison doors of the cap- 
tive soul ? 

“This scene made a deep impression upon the two 
fellow prisoners who had been appointed as attendants 
upon the dying Ralph Norton, and both became really 
interested in their own salvation. 

“Tell us, sir, said one, as the patient now slept, 
having fallen into a peaceful slumber, “if you are sure 
there is nothing we can do to help secure our spiritual 
safety. Do our good resolutions and reformation 
amount to nothing ? Are we not commanded to work 
out our own salvation with fear and trembling ? 1 

“No, sir; vou are not commanded to do anything 
of the kind. Christians are commanded to work out 
their salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God 
who works in them to will and to do of his good 
pleasure. Not by might, nor by power but by my 
Spirit, saith the Lord . 2 Mv friends, I desire most 
cordially your salvation. Let us talk this whole mat- 
ter over. One of you says that religion, or the moral 

1 Phil. 2: 12. 2Ezek.4:G. 


328 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


change mentioned in the Bible is nothing more than 
the formation of a purpose to do right. Reformation 
also and religious forms have been mentioned. But 
God sa} r s. Give me thy heart. 1 One of his servants 
says, Though I speak with the tongues of men and 
of angels, and have not charity, or love, 1 am become 
as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 2 Knowledge, 
faith, beneficence and all the externals of religion are 
but the dead corpse of religion, if love, its animating 
spirit, be wanting. 

“Those who have studied the Bible call this new 
life and love in the soul ‘regeneration.’ This is religion, 
and a mistake here is ruinous to your souls. May the 
Holy Spirit help you to listen while I try to tell you 
of the way. This word, regeneration, was used by old 
writers in various figurative senses. The return of the 
verdure and beauty of nature in spring was called a 
regeneration. Cicero wrote to his friend Atticus and 
spoke of his being restored to his place of influence and 
social and civil standing as a regeneration. Josephus 
calls the return of the Jews from captivity a regenera- 
tion. 

“In the New Testament this word is used only 
twice, and in one of these places (Matt. 19:28) it has 
no reference to this change in the soul. Elsewhere it is 
said, Not by works of righteousness which we have 
done, but of his own mercy he saved us, by the 
washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost. 3 

“But in a variety of other forms of expression this 
change is often spoken of. The whole Christian life is 
based upon this change which lies at its beginning. 
Of saved persons it is said, which were born, not 

1 Prov. 23: 26. 2 1 Cor. 13: 1 ffg. 


8 Titus 3: 5. 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


329 


ol blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will 
ol man, but of God . 1 No illustrious parentage, nor 
ties of noble blood, nor anything that man can will or 
do weighs anything in securing the eternal life of the 
dead soul. Nor can any power shut this life out of the 
soul when there is a hearty acceptance of Jesus as a 
personal savior. Neither these walls, nor the contempt 
ol man, can shut out from your hearts this blessed 
power of God.” 

“Oh, sir, is it possible that creatures so vile as we 
may be renewed in heart ? ” 

“Yes, yes, boys!” exclaimed Ralph, who had 
aroused from his sleep, “it is possible. I know it is so. 
I feel such a sweet peace in my own poor heart. You 
may too.” 

“But let me beg you once more,” said Dr. Prescott, 
“to remember that this way of life is not outward 
reformation. A man’s outward life might be faultless, 
so far as man can see ; all civil obligations may be 
faithfully met ; all debts may be paid ; deeds of benefi- 
cence and neighborly acts may be performed ; while the 
heart may rankle with hatred to God. There may be 
no heart in any of these things. Religion is not the 
purifying of a corrupt stream after it leaves the fount- 
ain, for the impure waters would still issue from the 
fountain to again corrupt the stream. Religion goes 
to the source of human action, the heart, and com- 
pletely purifies the fountain head. It is not the lopping 
off of the branches from the trunk of the tree of sin, but 
it is the digging up of the tree by the roots. 

“Of course, my friends, the man who has religion 
will have a new life. If the fountain has been purified 
it will no longer send out impure waters. If the tree 


] John 1 : !:? 


330 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


of sin has been dug up by the roots there will be no 
longerduxuriant branches of iniquity appearing in the 
life. 

“Not that there will be no sin in the life of a 
believer. He will constantly sin. But the reign of sin 
over him will be broken. He will no longer be the 
slave of sin, but there will be in his heart a conflict 
with the sin which still remains. The Lord illustrates 
this in washing the disciples’ feet. When Peter said, 
not my feet only, but also my hands and my head, the 
Master replied, He that is bathed needeth not to be 
washed except his feet. He has been in the cleansing 
fountain and needs only to have the sand and mire 
which cleaves to his feet washed off as he passes 
through life. 

“In this religion no new powers are given to a 
man, but there is a complete change in the powers he 
already has. Before he believes or trusts in Christ, 
which he does at the time of his renewal, his will 
chooses only that which is evil. His will is so cor- 
rupted and enslaved by sin that, while free in its 
action, it always and invariably chooses that which is 
evil and rejects that which is good. There is no 
restraint or compelling power upon its freedom, but it 
is so completely corrupted by sin that it is certain that 
it will always choose evil. When the heart receives 
Jesus as Savior, this rule of sin is broken and the will 
chooses that which is good. The religious man chooses 
to please God instead of himself. His will becomes 
obedient to God’s will. 

“Then also the affections of the renewed man are 
changed about. He does not any longer love sin and 
its pleasures, but he loves God and his word and his 


1 John 13: 10. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


331 


people and things which are holy and good. Before he 
trusted in Jesus his affections were turned away from 
God ; after trusting him his affections are completely 
changed about and he loves all these things of God and 
holiness and heaven in which before he had no pleas- 
ure. His love for God becomes the ruling motive of his 
life. He now tries to do right because he loves God 
and desires to please him. Because he loves God there 
will be in his heart a love for Christians because they 
are God’s people, and the strength of this love will be 
in proportion to the extent to which he sees the image 
of Christ in the lives of Christians. He will have in his 
own heart the truth, We know that we have passed 
from death unto life because we love the brethren. 1 ” 

“Yes, yes, I feel that, sir ! ” said poor Ralph. “I feel 
that I love all who love Jesus. I feel that I love every 
bod}'.” 

“But vce want to find the way, old chum, ’ said 
one of the prisoners. “I would like to ask you one 
more question, sir,” he continued, addressing Dr. 
Prescott. “If we have this religion of which you speak 
can we live without sin, especially in such a place as 
this ? I am afraid if we should get religion we could 
not keep it long in prison.” 

“If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and 
the truth is not in us, 2 ” replied Dr. Prescott. So thfe 
Scriptures say; "but it also said, Whosoever is born 
of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in 
him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God . 3 
These words seem to be at varience with the others I 
have just mentioned and also with the experience of all 
Ghristidns. Some devout Christians, in compaiing 
their experience with these words, and finding so much 

1 John 8: 14. 2 1 John 1 : 8. 3 1 John 3: 9. 


332 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


sin in their lives, have been filled with grief. Here it is 
said that persons born of God do not sin, while every 
Christian does sin continually. The explanation is 
found in Paul’s description of the experience of the 
renewed man — his own experienee — in his letter to the 
Romans . 1 He says, I find then a law, that, when I 
would do good evil is present with me. For I delight in 
the law of God after the inward man; but I see another 
law in my members, warring against the law of my 
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin 
which is in nry members. Again he says,. Now if I do 
that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin 
that dwelleth in me. To will is present with me, but 
how to perform that which is good I find not. So then 
with the mind I myself serve the law of God ; but with 
the flesh the law of sin. Do you not see, my friends, 
what he means ? The renewed man, Paul’s real self, 
did not and could not consent to the sin which still 
remained in his human nature. His changed heart did 
not approve of the sin which he constantly found in 
himself, but was always fighting against it. His mind, 
with a changed will, did not wish to sin; and yet he 
must constantlv weep because the law of the members 
or his unsandtified human nature so constantly led him 
into sin. So he said it is not I that commit this evil 
but the sin which still dwells in me. There is a contin- 
ual fighting between the law of the mind and the law 
of the members, the one getting stronger as we grow 
in grace until at last it gains the full victory over the 
old man and his corrupt deeds . 2 

“It is like digging up some trees of wonderful 
vitality by the roots. Some particles of the roots 
remain which put up sprouts and there is constantly a 

1 Rom. 7 : 21-25. 2 Col. 3: 9. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


333 


need ot plucking up these sprouts until every particle 
of the roots has been destroyed. It is like a bathed 
man continually getting his feet soiled by the mire and • 
dirt of sin after he has come out of the bath. You have 
heard the old saying that after a snake has been killed 
his body will continue to writhe and move until the 
sun goes down. I do not say that this is true,. but it 
illustrates what I am telling you. The head of sin 
may be crushed in your hearts, but there will always 
be movements of that old body of sin until the sun 
of this life goes down. 

“The difference between a wicked man and one who' 
is religious is that one is a sinner in love with sin and 
running a fter sin ; while a religious man is a sinner 
hating sin and running from sin. He never, does and 
never can approve of sin, yet his earthly nature often, 
even daily sins. Whosoever is born of God doth not 
commit sin, because it is not his will to sin, he does not 

love to sin because he is born of God. But you need 

% 

not give yourselves any trouble about whether you 
can keep from sinning. The thing for you to do is to 
trust in Jesus right now to save you, and when you 
have done that you can trust him to give you strength 
to keep you from .sin.” 

The two prisoners were much moved and earn- 
estly entreated the minister to pray for them. All 
kneeled and as the good man drew nearer and nearer 
to God in prayer, taking deeper, and stronger hold 
upon divine power, heaven seemed to light up the 
cheerless prison cell, and when they arose there were 
two other souls who had passed from death unto life, 
and peace like a river filled their souls. It is hard to 
tell whether Ralph or his chums were happier at their 
new found joy. 


334 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


But the end had come with Ralph. The happy 
prisoner’s strength was rapidly failing. The Lord 
came and with one sweet word of love released him 
from the prison cell in which his body was confined 
and from the prison cell of eternal death, and left the 
minister and the two convicts looking upon the cold 
clay. Who will say that his redeemed spirit did not 
pass from the dark prison into the brightness and 
beaut\^ of the “Many Mansions” ? 

Two days later Dr. Prescott baptized the two 
believing prisoners, being fully assured of their salva- 
tion and eternal life. The prison authorities allowed 
them, accompanied with a guard, to be taken out to a 
beautiful stream in the suburbs of the city and there in 
the presence of a few friends they were “buried with 
Christ in baptism” and arose from the watery grave to 
walk with him in newness of life. There are worse men 
outside of prison than mam r of those who, in prison 
cells, are satisfying the demands of the law. Those 
outside are saved. Why may not those within experi- 
ence the saving power of our Lord ? 

With his heart overflowing with love to God for 
his abundant mercies, the minister returned to his 
darkened home in the city among the mountains to 
have his heart all torn asunder afresh b}^ the knowl- 
edge of another great sorrow which was rending 
loving hearts. He had not yet heard of the dark 
shadow which had fallen upon Ashton Hall. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


335 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


DARKNESS AND MYSTERY. ' 


“God moves in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform ; 

He plants his footsteps in the sea 
And rides upon the storm. 

“Deep in unfathomable mines 
Of never - failing skill, 

He treasures up his bright designs, 

And works his sovereign will.” 

— Cowper, Light out of Darkness. 

In the late afternoon of the day of the disappear- 
ance of Julia Ashton a note reached her uncle, purport- 
ing to be from Mrs. Crumpton, saying that Julia 
would spend the night with her. Nothing was there- 
fore known of her disappearance until, about noon the 
next day, a servant was dispatphed to Mrs. Crump- 
ton’s and returned with the intelligence that Julia had 
left her house early the previous afternoon. Nothing 
further could be learned in reference to her. No one 
else in the entire mountain city had seen her later than 
this. The news of her mysterious disappearance 
spread over the city like prairie fires sweeping over the 
western plains. A thorough and systematic search 
was made of all the by-wavs and lanes and alleys, 
of old unoccupied houses, of unused wells and cisterns, 
but not a single trace of the missing one could be 


336 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


found. Will Mortimer, fearing the worst, went hastily 
to the falls of the stream which dashed over rocks 
through the city and with beating heart sought for 
some traces of her whom his soul loved, but in vain. 
Every road leading out of the city for miles was 
searched, and then a systematic examination of the 
country between roads was* made. Telegrams were 
sent in every direction, and circulars sent out offering 
a large reward for her recovery or for proof of her 
whereabouts. Everything possible was done which 
might lead to a clew as to her fate. But every effort 
seemed fruitless, and no traces of her could be dis- 
covered. 

• Mr. Ashton satdn his plain yet elegant library in 
deep gloom, his smitten heart almost breaking, yet he 
was calm and trusting. He was trusting in the Lord 
and leaning not to his own understanding, and he was 
t finding grace to help in his time of need. Three days 
of diligent search had been productive of no satis- 
factory results in finding traces of his niece. As the 
gloom of evening gathers about him, as he sits alone in 
the gloaming and as his loneliness becomes oppressive 
he lifts his thoughts heavenward and they find expres- 
sion in the words of that sweet old hymn, which he 
had so often heard from the voice of his niece : 

“Abide with me ! fast falls the even - tide ; 

The darkness deepens — Lord, with me abide 1 
When other helpers fail and comforts flee, 

Help of the helpless, O abide with me! 

“Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day ; 

Earth’s joys grow dim, it’s glories pass away; 

Change and decay on all around I see; 

O thou who changest not, abide with me I” 

While he thus sat in the gloaming the pastor who 
had just returned from his late trip and heard the sad 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


337 


intelligence of Julia’s strange disappearance, came in 
to converse with his friend. 

'‘My dear afflkhed friend,” said Dr. Prescott, “I 
have just returned from my visit to poor Ralph Norton 
and I am inexpressibly grieved to hear of the strange, 
sad misfortune that has befallen you. The suspense 
and uncertainty in reference to the fate of your loved 
one is the most distressing factor in your grief.” 

”i am indeed, my pastor, passing through the deep 
waters, but God is with me and all is well. The Judge 
of all the earth will do right . 1 Of that I am very sure. 
This great sorrow which has come upon me is not a 
matter of mere chance. It could never have happened 
without God’s permission. Therefore I know it is a 
blessing in disguise. My heart is almost breaking but 
I remember th^it 

‘God moves in a mysterious way, 

His wonders to perform : 

He plants his footsteps on the sea 
And rides upon the storm.’ 


You will recall that when Cowper wrote these lines he 
had just been providentially delivered from suicide. In 
a . spell of despondency, he determined to end the 
earthly struggle and hired a cabman to drive him to 
the river where he intended to drown himself. The 
cabman drove him around and around in the streets, 
and either missing his way or moved by some unac- 
countable impulse he stopped his cab at Cowper’s own 
gate whence he had started. The poet interpreted this 
as an interference ol God’s providence and sat down 
and w T rote this hymn, thereby teaching hundreds 


of tried souls to 


‘Judge not the Lord l>.v feeble sense, 
But trust him for his grace; 
Behind a frowning providence 
He hides a smiling face.’ 


1-Gen. 18:25. 


338 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Because 

‘Deep in unfathomable mines 
Of never failing skill, 

He treasures up his bi’ight designs 
And works his sovereign will:’ 

therefore 

‘Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; 

The clouds ye so much dread 
Are big with mercies and shall break 
With blessings on your head 1 ’ 

I do not know, dear pastor,- what will be the issue 
of this sorrow, but I do know that the Lord God 
omnipotent reigneth . 1 ” 

“When I came in,” said Dr. Prescott, “I thought to 
speak some word of comfort to you ; but so rich and 
sweet are your experiences of God’s love and power, 
and so strong are }^our assurances of his goodness and 
wisdom that I feel, as though I should sit at your feet 
as a learner.” 

“Nay, nay, say not so. I am only a poor sinner, 
saved by infinite grace.” 

At this moment Judge Norman and Will Morti- 
mer were announced at Ashton Hall and joined Mr. 
Ashton and Dr. Prescott in the library. Their coming- 
had special reference to the search for the lost young 
lady, as they were engaged to take the lead in prose- 
cuting this work. 

“My dear sir,” said the Judge, “I am persuaded 
that Miss Julia must haA T e been kidnapped. I have 
followed out every other theon^ to its logical con- 
clusion, and nothing else seems to me to be at all 
tenable. No one, it seems, could have had any motive 
for murdering her. She had no jewels nor money 
about her person which could have provoked a mur- 
derous assault. I do not think she could have com- 


1 Rev. 19:6. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


339 


mitted suicide, for we surely have made sufficient 
examination to have found traces of this, had it been 
attempted or accomplished. Every well and cistern 
in the city has been carefully examined, and every pond 
of water and every portion of the river, suitable for the 
purpose, for miles each way has been carefully dragged. 
I am sure that there has been neither murder nor 
suicide. Kidnapping must therefore be the cause 
of Miss Julia’s disappearance, but the •villains have 
most completely covered up all traces of their infamous 
work. It seems as mysterious as the Charley Ross 
case, though I hope we shall have better success in 
ferretting it out than was attained in that case. I 
merely wished to say to you, my dear sir, that the case 
is in the hands of most skillful detectives and they have 
instructions to spare neither time nor expense in the 
thorough prosecution of their work. Have you any 
further instructions to give or suggestions to make?” 

“None, Judge. I know that you and Will have the 
case thoroughly in hand, and that you will do all the 
work necessary, and 1 will continually lay the case 
before the Lord in prayer that he may bless your 
efforts in finding mv loved one.” 

“Prayer is a very good thing, my dear sir, in its 
place, but this is a case which prayer does not and 
cannot reach. You may pray as much as you please, 
but unless the detectives and all others who are at 
work on it get hold of some clew and successfully trace 
it out, Miss Julia will never be found. This is not a 
case for prayer,, my dear sir, but it is a case for shrewd 
and persevering work.” 

“Then, Judge, in your opinion, the Scriptures do 
not mean exactly what they say when they say that 
God works all things after the counsel of his own 


340 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


will ; 1 and that all things work together for good to 
them who love God, to them who are the called accord- 
ing to his purpose ; 2 and also that if ye abide in me 
and mv words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will 
and it shall be done unto you.* With all my heart, 
Judge, I believe these words ; I believe they are literally 
true ; I believe they are intended to be appropriated by 
us in our daily living. But this taking hold of them for 
ourselves implies that we use all the means and 
resources at our command for the fulfillment of our 
prayers; and then when we have done all that we can 
do, we are to stand still' and see the salvation of the 
Lord. 4 You do all that can be done, and we will sub- 
mit our best efforts to the Lord for his help, guidance 
and control.” 

“Well! well! my dear sir, we’ll do the working and 
let you do the praying.” 

“1 am persuaded,” continued Mr. Ashton, “that 
the Lord’s hand is in all this and that there is good in 
it for my absent niece.” 

“The Lord's hand in this! The Lord directing 
villains to steal a sweet good girl and carry her 
off to — nobody knows where ! You surprise me, my 
dear sir ! You greatly surprise me ! I can only see the 
Devil’s hand in all this, instigating these wicked 
wretches to hold their fair captive for the purpose 
of securing a large reward.” 

“Of course, Judge, this was a wicked scheme of 
Satan. That is undeniable. But it is equally true that 
it could never have been executed unless the Lord had 
permitted it, and he permitted it for some good pur- 
pose, some purpose of blessing to my niece. She has 
long sought the life of trust in our Lord. Here are 

1 Eph. 1: 11. 2 Rom. 8:28. 8 John 10:7. 4 Exort. 14: 13. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


341 


some expressions of hers which she poured out in the 
sweet rich strains of poetry and left upon her table the 
very day other disappearance: 

‘ SOUL, .LONGINGS. 

•Spring spreads her charms before me, 

Decked in her robe of green, 

Varied with tints and shadows. 

And the sunlight’s fitful sheen. 

Blue mountains rise before me. 

Clasped in the soft embrace 
Of many a fleecy, floating pile. 

Of changeful form and grace. 

‘Gently the west wind breatheth 
The leaflets into life, 

With soft caress and whisperings low — 

With fun and frolic rife. 

The forests ring with songsters. 

Carolling blithe and free, 

Flooding the air with melody sweet. 

Flitting from tree to tree. 

* * * * ****** 

‘And yet ’midst all this beauty, 

This glamour of earth and air. 

My spirit no harmony flndeth — 

In common with things so fair. 

For dark and dense are the shadows 
That around my pathway lie. 

Shrouding my soul like a gloomy pall. 

And the eye can no light descry. 

* Thicker and thicker they gather. 

Like birds of ill-omen and hue. 

Whose fluttering pinions and horrid forms 
Shut out the bright landscape from view'. 

O, Earth! — so teeming with gladness, 

So lavish of gifts rich and rare — 

Hast thou no tokens of good for me? 

Canst thou whisper no words of cheer? 

‘ Thou hast thy seasons of darkness. 

Of tempestuous storm and drought; 

But there comes a lull, a rest, a change, 

And stars and dews creep out. 

The clouds have all “silver linings,” 

And are cleft by many a beam — 

But to me there cometh no rift at all, 

E’en as transient as lightning’s gleam. 


342 


V ROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


• Thy nights are followed by mornings, 

Whose radiance floods the skies; 

O! murmur to me this will precedent be, 

That my “day-star” too shall arise I 
Then ceasing my soul its wailings, 

Hushing its sad, weary cry, 

Shall spring up in hope’s bright adorning, 

And bask in the light bye and bye.’ ” 

When Mr. Ashton ceased reading the tears were 
chasing each other down his withered and furrowed 
cheeks, as he said with deep emotion : 

“This strange misfortune which has befallen her is 
one of God’s ways of leading her into the light. But I 
cannot now think or speak longer of this great 
sorrow. It will unnerve me. I would like to hear 
something from poor unfortunate Ralph Norton, from 
whom our pastor has just returned.” 

“What now about that wicked scape -grace, the 
cause of a mother’s broken heart?” exclaimed the 
Judge. “The best thing that scamp could do, my dear 
sir, would be to die out of the way and cause no more 
trouble.” 

“Which he has done,” said Dr. Prescott, very 
seriously, “and it is my pleasure to sav that it is my 
deep conviction that he exchanged his prison cell for a 
home in the ‘many mansions’ of the city that hath 
foundations whose builder and maker is God. I was 
with him in his last moments and he gave strong 
evidence that he has followed his sainted mother to the 
better land.” 

“Is it possible, my dear sir! Is it possible that 
Ralph Norton after his criminal life made pretensions 
to religion! Then surelv nothing is impossible with 
God.” 

“So his word declares, Judge.” 

The pastor then gave an account of his visit to the 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


343 


State prison and of the death of the unfortunate 
convidt, the baptism of the two others who were 
present at the closing scene, and of his feeling that the 
very light of heaven seemed to shine into the gloom 
of the prison cell of the dying criminal. 

“You may be right, my dear sir! You may be 
right! ” exclaimed the Judge. “You are a better judge 
in such matters than I am. But I never would have 
dreamed that such a scape -grace as Ralph Norton 
could possibly be saved. But I believe, my dear sir, it 
is orthodox to hold that God is all-powerful and can 
perform such feats as this when he chooses to do so. 
But the question is, does he often choose to save a 
dying thief? That’s the question, my dear sir! ” 

“And observation teaches us, Judge, that God does 
not often save one in the last hour who has slighted 
so many offers of mercy as this Ralph Norton. Some- 
times, however, he does so in order to teach us that his 
power is unlimited.’’ 


344 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 


THE PLOTS OF ENEMIES. 

•■Thou shalt call and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to 
the work of thine hands.”— Job 14: 15. 

Although the strong faith of Mr. Ashton, in his ripe 
Christian experience, was sorely tried by the mys- 
terious disappearance of his beloved niece, yet he clung 
tenaciously to the infallible Word of his Heavenly 
Father in the darkness, and in the overwhelming 
gloom he sinned not nor charged God foolishly. Like 
the afflicted man of the ancient time, who was called 
upon to endure such affli<5tion and sorrow as rarely 
comes to the lot of mortals, he would often say to 
friends who visited him in his grief, The Lord gave, 
and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name 
of the Lord. 1 Shall we receive good at the hand of the 
Lord, and shall we not receive evil ? 2 In all this great 
sorrow he sinned not against God with his lips. He 
rested upon the assurance, which has been the support 
of afflicted ones in all the ages, that to God’s call he 
would ever answer and that God would have, did 
have, ever has, respect unto the work of his hands. 

But while firmly resting upon the unchanging love 
and favor of God, this aged Christian was human. 
His sorrow, like a mighty tempest, beat mercilessly 


1 Job 1:21. 


2 Job 2: 10. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


345 


upon his soul. His frame became more feeble. His 
hair grew whiter. And to all who came to Ashton 
Hall it was plain that the very light of his life had 
gone out in darkness, and that the brightness of his 
home had grown dim. None of his religious duties 
were neglected. He was always in his place in the 
house of God. He spent as much time as his frail 
health would permit in visiting the poor and the dis- 
tressed, giving liberally of his ample means for their 
relief. He took a keen interest in Dr. Prescott’s enter- 
prise of building a chapel in South End, and in time 
saw a neat house of worship in that populous portion 
of the city dedicated to God. In it he placed later a 
handsome memorial pulpit in memory of his beloved 
niece, saying, “If she still lives, it will please her when 
she is restored to her friends ; if she be not still alive, it 
will perpetuate her memory among those who love 
her.’’ 

Norman and Mortimer have spared no time nor 
expense in seeking, through the agency of the most 
expert detectives, to find some clew to the fate of the 
young lady. 

“I tell you, Will,” said the Judge one day, “this is 
one of the strangest cases that ever came under my 
observation. The detectives have examined this whole 
city ‘from a to izzard,’ and they are satisfied that she 
has not committed suicide, nor has she been murdered, 
and yet is nowhere in the city. Then where is she? 
That’s the question.” 

“Yes, Judge,” replied the young man, “that is the 
question. It is the most puzzling thing in the world 
that she should have so mysteriously disappeared and 
left not a trace behind.” 

While her friends are thus grieved and perplexed as 


346 


from error’s chains. 


to her disappearance Julia Ashton is chafing and 
pining in her imprisonment in a free American city r in 
this “land of the free and home of the brave”— a 
prisoner for no crime — a prisoner because the repre- 
sentatives of a great politico - religious organization 
have set their covetous, avaricious ey^es upon her 
wealth, as a means of b aiding up and advancing the 
interests of the so-called church, which acknowledges 
allegiance to no power save to the “old man of the 
Vatican.” From the sisterhood of the Convent of the 
Sacred Heart she receives the greatest deference and 
respect. Their kindness to her is unparalleled, and 
kindness has its power upon every human heart. 
There is not one of our race whose heart is proof 
against steady and persistent kindness. By the studied 
kindness of these nameless nuns and Sisters of Charity, 
many Protestant girls have been won over to mad 
devotion to Romanism, from having been sent by their 
parents or guardians to convent schools. Many who 
have never become avowed Catholics have been so 
impressed by these female ministers of Rome that they 
indignantly resent every word they hear spoken in dis- 
paragement of Catholics. 

Julia Ashton was petted and indulged by the 
Abbess to every luxury that heart could wish. When 
she desired she wandered at will in the fragrance of the 
rare and beautiful flowers that grew in the exquisitely 
beautiful grounds of the convent. In the shady bowers 
of rose and honey -suckle on rustic seats, when the 
weather was fine, she spent many weary hours, wish- 
ing for something to read and finding nothing save 
Catholic books and papers. In the elegant parlors, 
richly carpeted, and adorned with costly Catholic 
pictures, she spent many hours in music, often on some 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


347 


of the splendid oratorios which lingered in her memory 
and reminded her of other days of her happy freedom. 
Had there not been such a turbulent unrest in her soul, 
and had not the circumstances of her violent seizure 
impressed her with the utter hollowness of all she saw 
in the convent, she might have been overcome with the 
kindness lavished upon her. In the midst of the music, 
and beauty, and kindness of the convent she was 
growing thin and pale, and, like the caged bird, was 
beating her life out about against the bars that impris- 
oned her. 

“Mother,” she said, “it is very strange that I 
should be kept in this place against my will. It is 
strange that the laws of the United States, or of any 
of the States, should permit such a state of things, as 
that a native born American citizen should be held as a 
prisoner for no crime whatever.” 

“My dear Miss Ashton, you should not speak 
of our happy retreat of piety as a prison. Here we are 
removed from all the care and strife of the world so 
that we may give our minds and hearts to the practice 
of piety and meditation on religious subjects. Have 
you not every luxury and comfort that heart could 
wish ? And have you not received here amongst the 
sisterhood of the Sacred Heart every possible kind- 
ness ? ” 

“It is true, Mother,” she replied, “that you and all 
your household have treated me kindly, and I have not 
wanted for anything needful for my bodily comfort. 
But all your kindness does not compensate for my loss 
of liberty, nor atone for my violent abduction from my 
home and friends.” 

“My dear child, what you are pleased to call your 
‘violent abduction’ was an effort of your best friends 


348 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


to secure the salvation of your soul. No soul can be 
saved outside of the Holy Catholic Church, and any 
means necessary for the salvation of such a precious 
soul is justifiable, for what is any bodily comfort 
compared to the saving of the soul ? ” 

“ Provided the soul is saved,” said the stricken 
young lady. “I am sure that God never designed 
religion to be forced upon any one. All attempts at 
force in the matter of religion have been signal failures. 
The_y repel the whole being and cause the soul to feel 
an utter revulsion to the faith that is sought to be 
forced upon it. Has not your organization sufficiently 
tried that in the past? She has tried the rack, the 
dungeon, the stake, and the horrors of the inquisition 
on heretics. She has put thousands to death. She has 
caused some to recant from sheer fright. But has one 
single soul ever been won over to the Catholic faith by 
this bloody violence of the past ? ” 

“Mv dear Julia,” said the nun, “why will }^ou 
persist in holding all these horrid tales of Protestants 
against the Holy Church ? Let them pass from your 
mind forever, and let me, your best friend, assure you 
that we seek only your highest good, the salvation 
of your soul,” and throwing her arms about Julia’s 
neck she kissed her fondly, and Julia wept upon her 
shoulder, keenly appreciating the kindness of the nun. 
At length she said : 

“Mother, dear, I believe you do love me. Will you 
not please send me home to ray uncle ? ” 

“Let us walk among the flowers, dear, and enjoy 
their fragrance. You will feel better after awhile,” she 
said tenderly and led her out amidst the flowers. 

Julia’s tears were soon dried, and she enjoyed the 
beauty and sweet breath of the flowers, one of God’s 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


349 


brightest and best gifts to man. But there, all around, 
arose the high frowning walls of the convent enclosure, 
and there stood the massive gate, with bolts and bars, 
ever guarded closely, cutting off all communion with 
the outside world and with those whom she loved, as 
completely isolating her from them as though she were 
a prisoner of war, incarcerated in some far off island 
of the ocean. It was late in the afternoon, and, as 
they passed near the gate, Julia observed that the 
milk- woman, who came at a certain hour every after- 
noon to furnish the supply of milk for the sisterhood, 
and who was a good 7 natured old mulatto woman, 
familiarly called “Aunt Vinie,” was permitted to go 
out of the great gate by the nun who guarded it 
almost unnoticed. A faint hope of escape sprang up in 
her breast, but .she said nothing and exercised the most 
rigid control over her features lest the Abbess should 
divine the thought which had flitted through her mind. 

Hope doeth good as a medicine. It is the staff 
of the soul. It is the nerve of every enterprise. It is 
“hope deferred that maketh the heart sick.” 

At the piano at ten o’clock the next morning Julia 
evoked such entrancing strains of melody as to call 
forth warm praises from the kind Abbess, and which in 
a measure assured that functionary that the sad girl 
was becoming reconciled to her convent life. At le.ngth 
Julia began to admit an uneasy apprehension lest the 
Abbess, so skilled in reading the moods and tenses 
of the creatures to whom her will was absolute law, 
should divine something of the hope that was thrilling 
her soul with gladness. She schooled herself during the 
whole day into the most rigid self-possession and into 
a control of her ever expressive features. 

The day passed as many others had passed. Julia 


350 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


read or sang or strolled among the flowers as she was 
accustomed to do, it being the policy of the autocrat 
of the convent to allow her the greatest freedom con- 
sistent with absolute security^ of her person. Julia 
made it convenient to be at a secluded nook of the 
great building which “Aunt Vinie’’ must needs pass in 
the afternoon with her supply of milk. Looking care- 
fully in every direction to be sure that she was not 
observed,— which, by the way, is a very difficult thing 
to accomplish in a Catholic church or convent, for 
there are numberless wickets, commanding a view 
of almost every r nook and corner, and a complete 
system of espionage prevails, — she hastily said: 

“Aunt Vinie, I want you to do me a favor, and for 
it I will give you five yards of the prettiest red gros- 
grain ribbon you ever saw, and with it you can fix 
yourself in handsome styde for church next Sunday.” 

“Yes, miss, what mus’ I do fo’ de little angel?” 
asked the good old darkey. 

“You see, aunt Vinie, I am planning a .surprise for 
our Mother Superior. The sisters are to dress the 
images of the Holy Family the day after tomorrow, 
and I want to dress up an image to represent a plain 
country woman, and call it Elizabeth coming to see 
the Hofy Family. What I want you to do is to bring 
me one of your dresses and a bonnet as near like these 
which you wear as possible, for me to use in fixing up 
Elizabeth. Roll them all up in a package and bring 
them tomorrow afternoon and place the bundle down 
carefully behind this wood box where I can get it. 
Don’t let the sister at the gate, nor any one here, see 
the bundle, because, you know, I want it to be a 
surprise to everybody. Will you do me this favor?” 

“Yes, miss, I sho’ will. You kin ’lv on ole Vinie in 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


351 


dis, fo’ sho 1 ,” said the old darkey, her eyes sparkling 
with delight at the prospect of the pretty red ribbon. 

In five seconds more Julia Ashton was strolling 
amidst the flowers and through the beautiful grounds, 
with a slight flush upon her cheeks, the first they had 
known for many long weeks. But when she assembled 
with the sisterhood for vespers and later for the 
evening meal she was as pale and passive as though 
nothing unusual had passed through her mind. 

Priest McLemore was a regular visitor at the 
convent of the Sacred Heart. He had many conver- 
sations with Julia Ashton, but had made absolutely no 
progress in converting her from the error of her ways. 
She was still, as she expressed it to him and as he 
asserted, an “incorrigible little heretic.” He would 
frequently tell her that he hoped to see her in due time 
“a faithful little sister.” After much persuasion, and 
with the added loving appeals of the Abbess, he had 
induced her to wear on her left wrist a golden bracelet 
with a pendent cross with settings of Rhine -stone, 
“as a reminder,” he said, “that our holy lord, the 
bishop, and all the faithful are entreating the holy 
mother, to request her Son to make you a faithful 
Catholic; for,” said he, “this gift has been consecrated 
by his holiness, the bishop himself, and sent especially 
for Miss Ashton.” 

“I fear,” she said laughingly, “your prayers will 
have such a round -a- bout journey they will lose their 
efficacy before they reach their final destination. 
Nevertheless, because of the great kindness of the 
Abbess to me, I will wear the cross. It will not injure 
me at any rate.” 

During the weeks of her confinement in the convent 
she had become so much used to wearing it that she 


352 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


was scarcely conscious of its presence. It had become 
a part other apparel. 

True to her promise, “Aunt Vinie” had concealed 
the expected package at the designated spot, and gone 
her way p.s usual, and no one had observed her in 
it. Julia had paid her, unnoticed, the coveted ribbon, 
and “Aunt Vinie” felt extremely rich in her new pos- 
session, but Julia had not dared to take her novel 
costume to her room that evening. She merely con- 
cealed it more securely bv covering it over with some 
waste debris near at hand, and steadily schooled her- 
self into such deportment as would not in any way 
betray her plan. It may be easily imagined that she 
slept but little that night, her mind being busy work- 
ing out every detail of her proposed escape. After only 
a few hours of sleep she awoke, about the hour for the 
matin service in the chapel, with a violent headache, 
and secured permission to remain in bed during the 
morning hours. The Abbess and an attending sister 
were all kindness, and with the aid of simple remedies 
and, later, of a refreshing sleep, “tired nature’s sweet 
restorer,” her headache was very much better by noon, 
and she dressed and appeared with the nuns for the 
noon -tide meal. She spent the afternoon hours in 
reading and music, and later in inhaling the sweet 
breath of the flowers. In an unfrequented closet she 
donned her servant costume, by the use of burnt cork 
secured the dark tint of “Aunt Vinie’s” features, and at 
the moment that the old milk woman was about 
ready to return on her way home, Julia went to the 
gate, and the nun in charge, supposing it to be the 
milk woman, opened the gate, and she walked out into 
the street, into the outside world, free once more. Bv 
a fortunate circumstance the milk woman was de- 


FROM ERROR’vS CHAINS. 


853 


tained longer than usual in the refectory, which 
circumstance gave Julia ample time to walk several 
squares and turn several corners in her hasty flight. 

At length the real “Aunt Vinie” came to the gate 
to be let out, to whom the nun said : 

“Is that you, aunt Vinie? I thought I let you 
out just now.” 

“Yes, miss, dis me sho’. ’Spec’s you fo’got an’ jes’ 
tho’t you let me out,” said the old darkey. 

“I may have forgotten, aunt Vinie, but I am sure I 
thought I let you out a few minutes ago. At any rate, 
I am sure this is you,” and she opened the gate for 
“Aunt Vinie” to pass out. 

Out on the streets of a great strange city, at 
sun -set and a total stranger! On flew Julia Ashton in 
the garb of a servant, going she knew not whither, but 
determined to put as many blocks as possible between 
herself and the convent prison from which she had just 
made her escape, and then she would hunt a telegraph 
office and let her uncle know where she was. When 
almost out of breath, from rapid walking, as she was 
passing a mammoth book store, the proprietors and 
clerks of which were Catholics, a cruel fate brought her 
suddenly face to face with priest McLemore. Of course, 
in her servant’s garb, she would not have attracted his 
attention. But unfortunately at the moment of meet- 
ing him her fair white hand and the well-known cross 
caught his eye. Instantly he siezed her by the arm and 
hurried her into the back room of the book-store, 
saying: 

“Be quiet! One scream is fraught with danger ! ” 

Like a trembling, panting hart, at bay by the 
hounds, she stood quivering before the u holy father ” 
and his minions, weak and faint from excitement and 


354 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


exhaustion, and realizing the utter futility of scream- 
ing or making any further resistance. Removing her 
servant’s bonnet and laying his hand upon her soft 
brown hair and looking steadily into her eyes, he said : 

“Tell me truly ; is not this Julia Ashton ? ” 

Realizing her discovery and recapture the poor girl 
in despair exclaimed : 

“This, sir, is the wreck of Julia Ashton. I appeal 
to you, father McLemore, if there is in your heart one 
spark of real regard for me; if there is one spark of real 
manhood and chivalry in your bosom ; I beg of you, I 
plead with you, please permit me to return to my 
home and my uncle. Oh, gentlemen, for the love you 
bear to your wives and daughters, I beg of you, 
intercede with father McLemore to send me to my 
home. I assure you, gentlemen; I assure you, father 
McLemore, if you will just let me return to my home, 
nothing shall ever be said or done about my long 
weeks of detention in the convent. Oh, pity a friend- 
less, disconsolate girl! In mercy I beg you send me 
home! “and she sank weary' and faint into a chair, 
sobbing as though her heart would break. 

But Rome claims the right to invade the holiest 
and most sacred relations of the family when the 
interests of the “ Church ” are involved. And these 
“good” Catholics were unmoved by the piteous plead- 
ings of the disconsolate girl. Their own homes, their 
own family ties, were at the mercy of the “Church,” and 
they moved not nor spoke one word in defence of poor 
Julia. Such is Rome; and she boasts that she never 
changes. What she was in the dark ages, when 
nations were at her feet, and the foot of the Pope was 
upon the necks of kings, she is today. She is only 
“biding her time” in America, and all of her communi- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


355 


cants are already absolved from all allegiance to an}^ 
power save to the will of the “old man of the Vatican.’’ 

Wringing her hands in despair as she beheld that 
her captors were merciless and unmoved, she cried out 
in her agony : 

“Oh, father McLemore, if you intend to take me 
back to the convent, I beg you kill me here and now. 
Take my life at once ! and spare me the torture of slow 
death in hopeless imprisonment ! How gladly would I 
welcome death ! instant death ! sweet death ! rather 
than remain a prisoner in a free countr\ r .” 

A closely curtained carriage was ordered and Julia, 
warned against making any outcry, was put into it at 
the door of this bookstore, and, with priest McLemore 
at her side, was soon rattling over the cobble stones in 
the direction of the convent of the Sacred Heart. 

“Here, lady Abbess,” said the priest as he entered 
the convent with Julia, “is our little bird, who came so 
near flying away and leaving us. See,” he said, 
pointing to her costume, “what a clever deception she 
practiced upon you holy sisters. Let the sweet little 
bird be more closely watched in the future,” and he left 
the great frowning convent as darkness spread her 
sable mantle over the cit\ r with its countless sorrows. 


356 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


* 

'CHAPTER XXX. 

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 


“In common worldly things ’tis called ungrateful. 

With dull unwillingness to repay a debt. 

Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent; 

Much more to be thus opposite with Heaven; 

For it requires the royal debt it lent you.” 

— Richard III. A o.t TI, Sc. 2 . 

I 

“I have come in, my dear sir,” said Judge Norman, 
enntering the pastor’s study some days after the 
conversation to Ralph Norton, “to let you know that 
Belle Norton, the little daughter of that scape grace, 
Ralph, has just been adopted into the family of nice 
people in the city of C — , and now has a most com- 
fortable home. I have just fixed up the papers in ship- 
shape and she has a good home.” 

“Indeed, Judge, I am truly glad to hear that. 
Another case of the benevolent spirit of our religion. 
For I am sure none but a true Christian would have 
taken this little orphan girl into their hearts and 
home.” 

“You are right, my dear sir, good, orthodox folks 
they were.” 

“As religion prompts people to do this, and as it 
could reach and save this little one’s criminal father at 
the last moment, it is wortlry of the most zealous 
propagation. Every enterprise which its principles 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


357 


have prompted, tor the elevation of humanity, deserves 
to be cordially sustained by every Christian from his 
means. God has entrusted large sums of money to 
some of his children, and they are selfishly enjoying it, 
forgetting that they are merely stewards of the mani- 
fold grace of God. Every Christian will be held 
accountable for the manner in which he uses his Lord’s 
money. A grand opportunity is now before his people 
for spreading the gospel everywhere, with their mil- 
lions of money and the wonderful openings to the 
nations.” 

“Botheration ! my dear sir. I don’t take any stock 
in this wild nonsense of trying to elevate the heathen 
Chinese, and the wild Indians, and Hottentots. The 
idea of talking to flat -nosed and flat footed, kinky - 
headed, Africans, about being saved, when they are 
going about naked, killing and eating each other, and 
esteeming it a great delicacy if they can occasionally 
pick a missionary’s bones! It may do very well to 
give the gospel to people in this country, but the idea 
of trying to save Chinese and Africans is a little 
beyond the limits of my credulity. It seems very prob- 
able to me that such creatures, as Ariel 1 has strongly 
argued, have no souls. No, my dear sir, let us work 
where we will do some good. Spread the gospel in this 
country where people have intelligence and civilization 
to understand it.” 

“Then what becomes of our marching orders, given 
by our Lord, just before his ascension, All power is 
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore 
and disciple the nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : 
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have 

] An anonymous pamphlet published in the year lstSti. 


358 


FROM ERROR’S CHAIN?. 


commanded you . 1 Mark says, Every creature ;- 2 while 
Luke says, All nations . 3 These last words of our Lord 
seem to indicate that in spreading the gospel there is 
to be no limit, but every one is to receive the message 
of merc3% the African equally with the Ethiopian, the 
yellow, almond -eyed celestial equally with the civilized 
people of America. The Lord said, Every nation , and 
every creature, and we dare not say otherwise.” 

“But, my dear sir, don’t you think the attempt to 
evangelize these degraded heathen a great waste 
men and monej' ? It seems so to me.” 

“Our business, Judge, is to obe3 T our marching 
orders and to give every creature an opportunity 
of salvation. When that order was first given the 
disciples were all poor and obscure. Now it is far 
different. Millions of dollars are in the hands of 
Christians. The professed disciples of Christ are rich 
almost beyond computation, and yet it is estimated 
that the3^ contribute less than one -sixteenth of one per 
cent, of their great wealth for the spread of the gospel. 
The wealth of professing Christians in our nation 
alone is said to aggregate ten thousand millions 
of dollars, and it is increasing at the rate of four hun- 
dred millions annualty. While large sums are con- 
tributed for the spread of the gospel there is nothing 
which so staggers my faith in the final triumph of the 
gospel as the meager contributions of God’s people for 
the spread of his kingdom. But on this dut3' of spread- 
ing the gospel we should cry aloud and spare not, 
hoping that there ma3^ be aroused a new spirit of con- 
secration of mone3^ to the Lord’s cause.” 

“Why, my dear sir, there are so many calls for 
money today that it is really appalling to me.” 

1 Matt. 28:18-20. 2 Mark 16:15. 3. Lake 24 : 47. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


359 


“About what is your income, Judge?” asked Dr. 
Prescott. 

“Realty, my dear sir, I do not know exactly, but I 
should say about eight to ten thousand, all told.” 

“Let us say eight thousand then as a safe figure. 
Now about what do your contributions to the Lord’s 
cause aggregate annually ? ” 

“Really, my dear sir, you are rather searching in 
your questions. I should say, though, that I con- 
tribute first and last throughout the year about two 
hundred dollars, which, it seems to me, is more than I 
am able to pay, and I have been thinking of reducing 
my contributions a little these hard times.” 

“Two hundred dollars, Judge, is about two- and - 
a -half cents out of every dollar of your income. Then 
pardon me for asking, about what sum do you use 
annually for family expenses ? ” 

“I should say, my dear sir,” replied the Judge, after 
making some figures on a slip of paper, “about sixteen 
hundred dollars.” 

“That is to say, Judge, about twenty cents out 
of every dollar of your income for family expenses. 
May I ask you still further, what is the aggregate 
of all your other expenses, books, office expenses, 
clerk’s hire, and everything else necessary in your 
business ? ” 

“About two thousand dollars, my dear sir, would 
cover all these and pay Will’s proportional part 
of our profits.” 

“That is twenty -five, cents more out of every 
dollar of your income. Expense of business, of living 
and of religious contributions, all aggregating forty- 
seven and one -half cents out of every dollar of your 
income. But say there are incidental expenditures in 


360 


FROM ERROR’S 


HATNS 


other ways of two hundred dollars, or two and one- 
half eents more out of every dollar, and we have an 
aggregate of only fifty cents out of every dollar 
of your income used for all purposes, and you have left, 
unused, one -half of your whole income, or four thous- 
and dollars untouched, to be added to your capital 
and invested in some profitable wav. The Lord’s 
cause is needing money so badly, and you, one of the 
Lord’s stewards, are laying up annually four thousand 
dollars, which you do not need and cannot use, and 
which would send four men and their wives into the 
great harvest field of the Lord, to gather the precious 
wheat for our Lord’s garner. And what you are doing 
there are hundreds and thousands of other rich men 
doing. Judge, give me a thousand dollars out of your 
last year’s income to help build our ehapel in South 
End for gathering in those poor unsaved souls.” 

“A thousand dollars! Why, my dear sir, you 
must be jesting. I am not able to give the half of that, 
but I have always intended to aid you in that enter- 
prise. That’s the kind of missions I believe in, sir. 
Save the heathens at your own doors.” 

“Well, Judge, how much will you give? If you 
cannot come to my figures, name yours.” 

“I cannot do that just now, my dear sir, I must 
have time to think the matter over.” 

“You must admit, Judge, that the Scriptures teach 
that all of the Lord’s people are his stewards; that 
their wealth is not absolutely their own, but that they 
hold it in trust from the Lord, in whom is vested the 
original absolute right of possession. All that we 
contribute to his cause is but giving back a part 
of that which is his own. In securing material for 
building the temple, David said, () Lord our God, all 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


361 


this store which we have prepared to build thee a 
house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is 
all thine own . 1 Peter says that Christians are stew- 
ards of the manifold grace of God . 2 Our Lord in a 
parable of a dishonest steward asks these questions, 
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous 
mammon, who shall commit to you the true riches ? 
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is 
another man’s, who shall commit to you that which is 
your own ? 8 thus clearly intimating that wealth is 
originally and truly God’s and is given in trust to men. 
Elsewhere it is said that it is. required in .stewards that 
a man be found faithful 4 — not that he be found tal- 
ented, or distinguished, or high in what is called social 
position, but that he be found faithful — that is, in hon- 
estly rendering to the Lord’s cause a fair and just 
proportion of his income. 

“The Lord, by one of his prophets, urged Israel to 
bring ve all the tithes into the storehouse, that there 
may be meat in mine house, and prove me now 
herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open 
you the windows* of heaven, and pour you out a 
blessing that there will not be room enough to receive 
it . 5 This wonderful people, the Jews, were highly 
favored of the Lord in many ways. They were the 
custodians of God’s word ; they themselves were a type 
of God’s spiritual people; their sacrifices were pictures 
of the great sacrifice of Jesus as the Savior of men ; and 
the lesson taught them here regarding tithes, contains 
instruction in regard to the grace of giving to be devel- 
oped by the Spirit of Christ.” 

“But, my dear sir, you do not mean to tell us that 
Christian people are to be brought under bondage to 

1 1 Chron. 29: 16. 2 1 Peter 4: 10. 8 Luke 16: 11. 4 l Cor. 4:2. 5 Mai. 8: 10. 


362 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


that old Jewish law ! Christ abolished the hand- 
writing of the old laws of the Jews, did he not ? ” 

“Of course, literal obedience to all the requirements 
of the ceremonial laws is not required, but the spirit 
of consecration which these laws implied is still 
required. Of that I cannot now speak fully. One 
of the most active of the Apostles has taught us, both 
by precept and example, that it is entirely appropriate 
for the most zealous of ministers to spend much tinie 
and labor in organizing and looking after a religious 
contribution. For Paul, after planting many churches, 
was engaged for a long while in gathering from these 
churches a contribution for an important object. 

“The duty of rendering to the Lord the proper 
proportion of our income is, by him, closely connected 
with both spiritual and financial prosperity. The Lord 
made grievous charges against Israel for withholding 
his portion of the fruits of the land. Will a man rob 
God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein 
have we robbed thee ? In tithes and offerings. Ye are 
cursed with a curse : for ye have robbed me, even this 
whole nation . 1 He then, by the mouth of his prophet 
exhorts them to put him to the test in the tithes and 
offerings, and see if he will not bestow upon them the 
most abundant blessings, and further encourages 
them, by assuring them that, if they perform the duty, 
he will rebuke the devourer for their sakes, and not 
suffer him to destroy the fruits of their grounds, nor 
permit their vines to prematurely cast their fruit. The 
Lord thus reasons with his people and declares a 
principle which is still true, that he honors those who 
honor him with their substance.” 

“It seems to me, my dear sir, that you lay a great 

1 Mai. 3: 8, 9. 


FROM ERROR’S ‘CHAINS. 


363 


deal of stress upon this idea of money in religion. Does 
not that lower religion ? ” 

“It is most surely a part of religious worship, 
Judge. When the angel appeared unto Cornelius he 
said, Thy prayers, and thine alms , are come up for a 
memorial before God . 1 His alms equally with his 
prayers are mentioned as acts of worship. To the 
Corinthians the Apostle says, Therefore, as ye abound 
in everything, in faith and utterance, and knowledge, 
and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye 
abound in this grace also . 2 As an act of religious 
worship, rightty performed, this duty brings rich 
blessings. It is said to honor God. Honor the Lord 
with thy substance and with the first-fruits of all 
thine increase : so shall thv barns be filled with plenty 
and thy presses shall burst out with new wine . 3 Them 
that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me 
shall be lightly esteemed . 4 It seems to be a principle 
of piety that those who worship God in the grace 
of giving will in turn be blessed of him. The liberal 
soul shall be made fat : and he that watereth shall be 
watered also himself . 5 There is that scattereth and 
yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth more 
than is meet and it tendeth to poverty . 6 All the 
possessions of God’s people belong to God, but he only 
claims a portion as his, and he will have that portion. 
Excuse me, Judge, for declaring so plainly my con- 
victions in this matter.” 

“Certainly, my dear sir, certainly ! Speak out your 
mind.” 

“What I mean is this, if the Lord’s people fail to 
honor him by bringing his portion into his storehouse, 
he will take it from them in some other way. He can 

1 Acts 10: 4. 2 2 Cor. '8: 7. 3 Prov. 8: 9, 10. 4 1 Sam. 2: 30. 5 Prov. 11 : 25. 

0 Prov. 11:24, 


364 


from f:rror’s chains. 


send the fire, or the flood, or the cyclone, or the hail, or 
the caterpillar, or the drought, or sickness, or some 
other disaster ; and he will do this if his people fail to 
honor him in the grace of giving. If he thus forcibly 
takes from his people his portion, they gain nothing by 
withholding, and lose much in failing to receive the 
blessings which come from consciousness of duty per- 
formed. It is very gratifying to know that more each 
year the truth is coming to be recognized among the 
Lord’s people that contributing to his cause is a part 
of religious worship and honors God.” 

u Whv, my dear sir, do you not degrade the wor- 
ship of God by thus connecting it with sordid money ?” 

“Is it degrading, Judge, to honor the Lord with his 
own possessions ? When this service is proper lv ren- 
dered it is the outflowing of the love of God in our 
hearts. Unless this inward essence of piety, which is 
love , be present, filling the soul and prompting every 
action, all duty dishonors God. Other motives and 
impulses may have a place in the soul only when love 
is the dominating impulse, but when love is absent 
there can be no acceptable service. Paul says, Though 
I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have 
not love, I am become as sounding brass or a clanging 
cymbal. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the 
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and 
have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 1 All service 
without love is a lifeless corpse, a stench in the nostrils 
of the Lord ; but, vitalized and purified and elevated 
by the presence of divinely implanted love, all duties 
are well pleasing to him. 

“We should also find a strong motive in the grace 
of giving in the example of our Lord. For ve know 

1 1 Cor. 18: 1-3. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


365 


the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he 
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye 
through his poverty might become rich. 1 He made 
himself ot no reputation, and took upon himself the 
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 
and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled him- 
self, and became obedient unto death, even the death of 
the cross . 2 In all that the divine Redeemer suffered 
upon the cross we may read the motive of the grandest 
of all examples to honor the Lerd with our substance. 
Paul is thinking of this wonderful display of God’s 
love when he makes atender appeal to the early Chris- 
tians ; I beseech you therefore by the mercies of God , 
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ac- 
ceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service . 3 ” 
“You make a strong case, m_v dear sir-! ’’ exclaimed 
the Judge. “But would you have us again under bond- 
age to the old Jewish law of tithes ? ” 

“The proportion of ourineome, Judge, which should 
be dedicated to the Lord is a question which should be 
devoutly and prayerfully considered. In the Old Test- 
ament definite laws are given in regard to tithes. In 
the New Testament the proportion of income seems 
to be left to be the outgrowth of its principles of 
piety. The Jews were required to give one -seventh of 
their gross income by allowing their lands to rest evgry 
seventh or Sabbatical year. In addition to this sev- 
enth, they were required to furnish the victims necssary 
for the temple sacrifices, and also to make special offer- 
ings on special occasions, and to redeem the first-born 
of every animal, as God claimed every first-born of 
man arid beast, because of sparing them in the land of 
of Egypt. By close examination it will be found that 

1 2 Cor. 8:9. '2 Phil. 2:7, 8. ii Rom. 12:1. 


366 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


fully one -fifth, and sometimes one -third of the gross 
income of the people was dedicated to the Lord. 

“But the cumbersome temple service has been abol- 
ished, and a much simpler service has been instituted in 
the Christian churches, requiring a small outlay to 
support it. On the other hand, the great work of 
evangelizing the nations has been been unmistakably 
laid upon the churches. In the prosecution of this 
work the voluntary principle is allowed the fullest 
scope in our blessed religion. Every man according as 
he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudg- 
ingly or of necessity : for God loveth a cheerful giver. 1 
But the man who takes advantage of this principle to 
gratify his stinginess and meanness, is a covetous man 
and an idolater, guilty of downright idolatry.” 

“My dear sir, you put the case very strongly,” said 
the Judge. 

“Strong words are needed, Judge; for the churches, 
grown rich, are robbing God. Every Christian must 
determine in the presence and fear of God, how much 
he owes to his Lord, making the measure of his pros- 
perity the measure of his duty. Upon the first day of 
the week let everyone of you lay by in store as God 
hath prospered him . 2 

“In our estimate of the Christian’s duty to his 
Lord, I cannot think that anyone who bears his name, 
who is not absolutely a pauper, could fail to see that 
he is enjoined to contribute every week, or could sat- 
isfy his conscience by giving back to the Lord less than 
one- tenth of his gross income. There is no New Testa- 
ment law requiring just that amount and no more. 
But that is far less than the law required of the devout 
Israelites. Many Christians ought to give more than 

! 2 Cor. Si:7. 2 1 Cor. Irt:2. 


1 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


867 


one -tenth: perhaps a few might consistently give less. 
As a general rule it will always be safe to decide that 
we owe the Lord at least one- tenth of our gross in- 
come. Those in moderate circumstances ought to give 
that much ; those in easier circumstances ought to give 
more ; while those in affluence should give still more. 

“The amount of the income would determine the 
proportion due the Lord. A man and family living on 
a salary of six -hundred dollars would feel the payment 
of sixty dollars far more than one with an income of 
ten thousand would feel the payment of one thousand 
dollars. In one case there would be five hundred and 
forty dollars left for living expenses, in the other case 
there would remain nine thousand, and the diminution 
would be felt very lightly. The man living on six hun- 
dred dollars might give enough by paying one - tenth ; 
while the man with the income of fen thousand might 
pay much more, indeed he could pay one -fourth of his 
income and feel it no more than the other feels the pay- 
ment of one -tenth. The New Testament has, therefore, 
has not enjoined the payment of any definite portion of 
the income to the Lord, but has left the voluntary prin- 
ciple to be applied by pious men and women, who are 
supposed to be able to appreciate their obligation to 
their Lord. The simple demand of duty is; Upon the 
grst day of the week — weekly — let everyone ot you lay 
by him in store, as God hath prospered him. The meas- 
ure of this prosperity will usually be the tenth of the 
income, and sometimes more. “ 

“Your system, my dear sir, would dig deeply into 
the pockets of God’s people. It would be too much, 
sir. It would be a grievous burden. It would be com- 
ing into bondage again. ” 


368 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


“Consecrated money service, Judge, not only has 
the approval of the Lord’s written Word, but has man- 
ifestly tokens of his approval in the experience and his- 
tory of his people. 

“About sixty years ago there was a division among 
the Baptist people of America upon the subject of tithes 
and offerings, a large number opposing, but the main 
body advocating the Lord’s claims upon a portion of 
the income of his people. Today the anti -mission Bap- 
tists have a meagre existence, numbering in the United 
States nine hundred ministers ; eighteen hundred 
churches; forty-five thousand members . 1 Those who 
stood by the old principles and advocated the Lord’s 
claims, have been wonderfully blessed and now number 
twenty -one thousand ministers; thirty -two thousand 
five hundred churches; and three millions of members . 2 
Some os the opposing members no doubt really believe 
that the Lord has no claim upon their substance, 
while a great many. of them hide their covetousness 
behind anti -mission professions. It must also be con- 
fessed that a distressingly large number of those who 
profess to stand by r the old Biblical teachings on the 
grace of giving are hiding their covetousness behind a 
shameful and criminal omission practice. Still the two 
divisions of the denomination stand today as a living 
illustration of the word of the Lord, them that hor.o 
me I will honor, and they' that despise me shall be 
lightly esteemed. ’’ 3 

At this point Judge Norman and Dr. Prescott were 
joined in the study' by Will Mortimer and Mr. Ashton, 
who at once became attentive auditors to the conver- 
sation. When they were seated Dr. Prescott resumed, 

“Let me also read you some illustrations of this 

1 Am. Bap. Year Book, 18*)'.). i Ibid. 8 1 Sam. :U30. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


369 


Irom the lives of Christians. I find this in a late peri- 
odical : 

“ ‘One pastor says, I knew a [widow of limited 
means who was remarkable for her liberality. But a 
sad change came over her by an unexpected legacy 
which made her wealthy, and then her contributions 
began to fall below the amount of her straitened finan- 
ces. Once she volunteered : now she only gives when 
importuned, and then it is as meager as if the fountains 
of gratitude had dried up. Once when asked by her 
pastor to help a cause dear to her heart in her compar- 
ative poverty, and to which she gave five dollars then, 
now she proffers twenty - five cents. Her pastor called 
her attention to the surprising and ominous change. 

‘ Ah ! ’ she said, ‘ when day bv day I looked to God for 
my bread, I had enough and to spare: now I have to 
look to my ample income, and I am haunted with the 
fear of losing it and coming to want. I had the guinea 
heart when I had the shilling means : now I have the 
guinea means and the shilling heart. ’ 

“But let me read of another ease. ‘A parishioner, 
who was a dear friend, read his pastor a page from 
life’s history to this effeCl : When a small boy he gave 
his heart to Christ. He was engaged in a brick -yard 
to carry clay, often on his head, for twenty -five cents a 
day. Then he vowed that one -tenth of his income he 
would give to his God. This he conscientiously did, 
and prosperity followed until his income was ten 
thousand dollars ; and then the trial of his life came, in 
which he went down in financial disaster. He would 
not give one - tenth of ten thousand dollars. Here his 
faith balked. He said, ‘After disaster had swept all 
away, I learned what I had not known before — that it 
is easier to give one -tenth of seventy -two dollars than 


370 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


of ten thousand dollars. A man is truer to God who 
works for twenty -five cents a day, and has less temp- 
tations and more strength to meet them whose income 
six dollars a month, than eight hudred and tirty- three 
and one -third dollars. He regained wealth, but it was 
in strict compliance with the vow of his youth, which 
his disaster enabled him to fulfil to the day of his 
death.’ 

“I will read just one other instance from a well- 
known life. ‘ Many years ago a lad of sixteen years 
left home to seek his fortune. All his wordly posses- 
sions were tied up in a bundle, which he carried in his 
hand. As he trudged along, he met an old neighbor, 
the captain of a canal boat, and the following conver- 
sation took place, which changed the whole current of 
the boy’s life : ‘Well, William, where are you going?’ 
‘I don’t know, ’ he answered ; ‘father is too poor to 
keep me at home any longer, and says I must now 
make a living for myself.’ ‘There’s no trouble about 
that,’ said the captain. ‘Be sure you start right, and 
you will get along finely. ’ William told his friend that 
the only trade he knew anything about was soap and 
candle making, at which he had helped his father while 
at home. ‘Well,’ said the old man, ‘let me pray with 
you once more, and give you a little advice, and then I 
will let you go. ’ They both knelt down upon the tow- 
path (the path along which walked the horses which 
drew the canal boat); the dear old man prayed 
earnestly for William, and then gave this advice ^Some- 
one will soon be the leading soap-maker in New York. 
It can be you as well as anyone. I hope it may be you. 
Be a good man ; give vour heart to Christ ; give the 
Lord all that belongs to him of every dollar you earn ; 
make an honest soap; give a full pound, and I am cer- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


371 


tain you will yet be a prosperous and rieh man. ’ 

‘“When the boy arrived in the city he found it hard 
to get work. Lonesome, and far from home, he remem- 
bered his mother’s words and the last words of the 
canal -boat captain. He was then led to seek first the 
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and united 
with the church. He remembered his promise to the 
old captain, and the first dollar he earned brought up 
the question of the Lord’s part. In the Bible he found 
that the Jews were required to give one- tenth to the 
support of the Levites; so he said, ‘If the Lord will 
take one -tenth I will give that. ’ And so he did ; and 
ten cents of every dollar were sacred to the Lord. 

“Having regular employment, he soon became a 
partner ; and after a few years his partner died, and 
William became the sole owner of the business. 

“He now resolved to keep his promise to the old 
captain ; he made an honest soap, gave a full pound, 
and instru<5led his book-keeper to open an account 
with the Lord, and carry one -tenth of all his income 
to that account. He prospered ; his business grew ; his 
soap sold, and he grew rich faster than he had ever 
hoped. He then gave the Lord two -tenths, and pros- 
pered more than ever; he then gave three -tenths, then 
four -tenths, then five -tenths. He educated his family, 
settled all his plans for life, and gave all his income to 
the Lord. He prospered more than ever. 

“This is the story of a well-known Christian man 
who hag given millions of dollars to the Lord’s cause, 
and has left a name that will never die. ” 

“Bravo! my dear sir, you make vour case still 
stronger,” exclaimed the Judge. “It’s good to go into 
business with the Lord as a profitable venture. ” 

“There should be great care as to motives,” said 


372 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


Dr. Prescott. “There may be a selfish motive in all 
that is contributed. With the idea that the full pay- 
ment of the Lord’s tithes will secure temporal blessings, 
this may be done merely^ for the purpose of securing 
temporal prosperity, and there may be sore disappoint- 
ment if there be a failure to reap such prosperity. In 
such cases there is no honoring of the Lord with the 
substance, and there need be no expectation of temp- 
oral prosperity. God is honored with tithes only when 
brought to him solely through love and gratitude. 

“Has it ever occurred to you that the cau.se of our 
Lord is the only cause that is forced to beg? None of 
the appetites, or passions, ever have to beg if we have 
the money to grathy them. We never deny^ ourselves 
of luxuries or useless indulgences, such as tobacco, nor 
of harmful stimulants, as the wine -cup, nor of apparel 
as extravagant as possible — none of these fleshly de- 
sires, alas, are denied — but how much vital force is 
expended in pleading with Christians, and begging 
them to do their duty in paying into the Lord’s treas- 
ury. When his claims are presented all sorts of excuses 
are made : ‘the times are hard,’ ‘the crops are unfavor- 
able, ’ ‘cotton is low, ’ ‘corn is high,’ ‘ money is scarce,’ 

‘ there are so many calls for money, ’ 4 charity begins at 
home, ’ and many others of a like nature. But when 
the tobacco is out, or a social glass of distilled poison 
is craved, or a circus is on hand, or a theatre, or fash- 
ionable ball, or any other worldly amusement is ap- 
pealing for patronage, none of these excuses are so 
much as mentioned. How does it speak for the relig- 
ion of the Lord’s people that his cause is the only 
cause which must beg ? 

“I find this recorded in a little tradl on this very 
question : ‘Not long ago an eminent evangelist was 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


373 


holding meetings in one of the leading cities in the 
United States. In writing afterwards about the hind- 
rances of the work in that city, he stated that during 
the progress of the services Madame Patti gave a 
grand concert in the city, and that night the evangelis- 
tic meetings were practically deserted. To use the 
evangelist’s own words: ‘All the Laodiceans had 
bought tickets and ‘ must ’ go to hear the famous and 
much -married and much -divorced ‘diva.’ Four 
thousand church members and church goers were pres- 
ent at the Patti concert that night, spending twenty - 
live thousand dollars for the privilege. ’ Doubtless a 
similar record might have been made in every large 
city where Madame Patti went. Nor is this an excep- 
tional case; for every week thousands of dollars are 
paid by wealthy members of Christian churches 
for far more questionable amusements than Madame 
Patti’s concerts. The box in the opera house often 
costs more than is paid for pew rent in the house of 
the Lord.’ ” 

“You make a strong case, my dear sir. Hrre is my 
check for a thousand dollars for your South End chapel 
enterprise. I thought I could not possibly give more 
than five hundred, but I will try to stand this much 
this one time. ” 

“Thank you, Judge. May the Lord bless you and 
your gift. ” 

“tlere is my check for two thousand dollars for the 
same purpose,” said Mr. Ashton. “One thousand from 
myself and one thousand from my absent niece, which 
I know she will approve. If you have any deficiency I 
will help you more, for my heart is set on that work.” 

“And I, sir, will contribute five hundred dollars to 
the enterprise,” said Will Mortimer, with the religious 


374 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


enthusiasm of a young man, for he too felt a deep in- 
terest in the work in this growing part of the city. 

“May Heaven’s richest blessings rest upon all these 
gifts and upon each of you who made them,’’ said the 
pastor with moist eyes. 

The little conference came to a close, and all realized 
that the darkness of the cloud which rested upon the 
group was relieved by the resolution formed by each 
one to be more faithful in the relation of Christian 
stewards. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


375 


CHAPTER XXXI. 


THICK DARKNESS. 

‘ k The Instruments of darkness tell us truths ; 

Win us with honest trifles to betray us 
In deepest consequences. ” 

* — Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3. 

“ Truth in the end shall shine divinely clear, 

But sad the darkness till those times appear.” 

— CRAbbk, — The Borough Letter , IV. 

For two days following her return to the convent, 
Julia Ashton was sick from the mental strain attendant 
upon her escape and recapture, with its horrors as 
alread}^ narrated. On the third day she began to re- 
gain somewhat her wonted strength, but paler, and 
the pidlure of sadness. Hope was dead, and she 
strolled aimlessly about the convent and through the 
grounds. 

Some days after her escape and recapture, priest 
McLemore called and asked to see the little heretic in 
the parlor. Spending some time in conversation, seek- 
ing to lead the thoughts of the disconsolate girl away 
from her grief over her separation from home and 
ftiends, he flattered himself that he had led her to feel 
more at ease in the convent. But in this he was 
deceived, for in the passive endurance of his presence, 
' which she loathed, there was left but a grim, hopeless 
submission to the inevitable. Later he became con- 


37(5 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


vinced of this fact, and some rumors reached his ears 
that possibly an examination of all the convents in the 
State might be instituted by the friends of Julia. But 
Rome is fertile in resources. So, calling one day, with 
these possibilities in his mind, the wily priest said to 
the nun at the head of the establishment : 

“Matters in reference to this Miss Ashton have 
reached a crisis, lady Abbess. The golden egg must, if 
possible, be secured tor the Holy Church, and we must 
then, when the property is transferred, get her as far 
away as we can from the possibility of discovery by 
her friends. Listen, Abbess, while I give you the plan 
which must be pursued. Our lord, the bishop, will 
come tomorrow and he, with yourself, will doubless be 
able to induce her to sign a transfer of the bank -stock, 
bonds arid other property. This transfer can be secured 
on the promise of liberty. If I do not misjudge, she 
will yield to anything, so far as regards her property, 
in order to regain her liberty. When the transfer is 
made,, you can then send her to the depot on the pre- 
text of starting her safely on her way home. I will 
have every arrangement made to send her on to the 
sisterhood in Jersey City, where she will be safe from 
discovery. It will be the best plan to remove her from 
the South entirely. This our lord, the bishop, declares 
has now become necessity. By a system of agencies he 
has secured a knowledge of the location of all the 
bank -stock and all the bonds and other securities, 
which can be specified in a schedule made out, and 
signed by herself in the presence of witnesses, and all 
accomplished in due form by the lord bishop’s special 
attorney. You .see, dear Abbess ! ” and the wily priest 
was gone. 

The matter was revealed to Julia by the Abbess the 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 377 

next morning as a. special proposition from his holiness, 
the bishop, and she was left to consider the matter 
until his holiness should come in the pomp of his sta- 
tion and with all the forms and witnesses and attorney 
necessary for robbing Julia Ashton of her entire fortune 
and transferring it to his own episcopal coffers. When 
was there ever a poor mortal weak and in the depths 
that Satan did not swoop down and avail himself of 
the advantage thus afforded him ? Did he not hurl the 
shafts of temptation at our Savior when he was weak 
and weary with forty day’s fasting ? and seek to lead 
him into sin at this most inopportune moment for 
resistance ?j 

In due time the bishop, the high dignitary of “the 
Church, ” made his appearance at the convent of the 
Sacred Heart. He and his minions were there on the 
diabolical mission of taking from a weak and helpless 
girl a fortune of a half- million dollars for the coffers of 
Rome. Not onty does Roman Catholicism avariciously 
seek to turn private fortunes into the propagandism of 
its tyrannical dogmas, but, by numberless political in- 
trigues, her leprous hand is all too frequently thrust 
into the public treasury. “Cardinal Manning advised 
Catholics throughout the world to enter politics as 
Catholics. In our large cities the priests are already in 
politics and to some purpose. The authorities of New 
York city, during the eleven years preceding 1880, gave 
to the Roman Church real estate, valued at three -and - 
a -half millions of dollars, and money to the amount of 
five millions eight hundred and twenty -seven thousand 
dollars; this in exchange for Romish votes, and every 
cent of it is paid in violation of law. This* suggests, in 
passing, that the C? cholic Church is storing up power 
by amassing immense wealth. Priest Hecker says that 


378 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


the aggregate wealth of the Roman Church in the 
United States increased from nine millions in 1850 to 
twenty -six millions in 1860, and to sixty millions in 
1870. 1 ” 

The bishop talked sweetly and kindly to Julia, told 
her that all the faithful members of the Holy Church 
desired her salvation, reminded her of the hopelessness 
of her condition, promised her release and restoration 
to her friends if she would consent to a transfer of her 
property to the Church. 

“But, bishop,” said Julia, “my property is under 
the management of my lawyers at my own home, and 
1 cannot transfer it if I wished ever so much to do so.” 

“True, my dear,” said the bishop, “but I have a 
schedule here of all the stocks, bonds, and other securi- 
ties in which your money is invested. You have only 
to sign this transfer of them and this order to your 
lawyers to turn them over to me. Then you become as 
free as an un- caged bird and can return to your own 
home at once.” 

Ah ! to be once more at home , with the wealth of 
meaning that word contained for Julia, the thought of 
it thrilled her soul with joy. Hesitating a long while, 
as the bishop and Abbess plied her with entreaties, the 
one desire for freedom and home impelled her at length 
to say : 

“Well, lord bishop, a half- million, yea, a whole 
million , is nothing to me if I am to be a prisoner for 
life. My uncle is abundantly able to take care of me, 
and he would cheerfully do this, as he did before I inher- 
ited any property. If you solemnly promise to send me 
at once to him I give you my fortune as the price of my 
freedom. On your solemn promise to send me home, I 

1 “Our Country,” by Dr. Joslah Strong; p. 54. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


379 


surrender it all to the Catholic Church, compared to 
liberty and friends.” 

With the tears coursing each other down her cheeks, 
she signed, sealed and delivered the transfer of the 
schedule of her entire estate to the representative of 
Rome, and signed an order to Norman and Mortimer 
to pay all over to the bishop. Priest MeLemore was 
at once informed of the transfer and he arranged to 
hurry Julia Ashton off on the noon cannon- ball train 
for the North and for far away Jersey City. Trusted 
minions were with him at the depot, awaiting the car- 
riage which should bring Julia from the convent, in 
charge of a trusted nun, when she would again be 
turned over to his tender mercies. But — he waited 
their arrival in vain. 

“Now, my dear,” said the Abbess in her sweetest 
tones, “you leave us to go back into the outside world. 
May Heaven’s blessings rest upon you,” and she em- 
braced her and kissed her affectionately. 

“I thank y<*>u, mother,” she replied, and down the 
steps, along the beautiful walk, through the great gate, 
into the outside world, she passed again, unconscious 
of her fate and that she was still a prisoner. One of 
the sisters told her that, “for affection’s sake,” she 
would accompany her to the depot in the carriage and 
see her off safely for home. Unsuspecting the diabolical 
plot of still further imprisonment, the pale girl entered 
the close carriage and was soon rolling over the cobble- 
stones in the direction of the depot. 

Many blocks had been passed when one of the hor- 
ses became frightened and unmanageable and ran the 
carriage against a hydrant, suddenly snapping off the 
spindle of the hindmost axle-tree. The shock so 
strained the carriage that the curtain on the injured 


380 


FROM ERROR'S CHAINS. 


side was torn wide open and through the rent thus 
made the nun and Julia Ashton were pitched violenth r 
out upon the pavement. Instantly the horses set off at 
full speed, with the driver still in the wreck of the carriage 
and the whole was out of sight in the distance, leav- 
ing the nun and Julia lying in a heap on the pavement 
where the accident occurred. Strange to say, it was in 
front of the gate of Julia’s own aunt, and just as the 
accident occurred Laura Chatfield and a gentleman 
friend were coming out at the gate. Recognizing 
Laura, Julia cried out : 

“O, Laura, do run here quickly. I am so glad to 
see you. Do come quickly.” 

Hearing her name called, Laura hastened to the 
spot. For a minute or more Laura seemed dazed and 
could not believe the testimony other own eyes. 

“Come, Laura, it is your friend, Julia Ashton, 
whom you thus meet.” 

“Is it possible! Julia, dear, is it really you? I am 
so glad to see you alive once more. Truly the dead is 
alive and the lost is found. Are you hurt much ? You 
ought to know this young gent, but I don’t believe 3'ou 
do. It is Mr. Clifford Burton, your cousin, if I mistake 
not.” 

The young man greeted her most cordially, and as- 
sured her of his sincere pleasure in meeting her, even 
under such violent circumstances, as he had despaired 
of ever meeting her again in this vale of tears. 

“But, dear, are you hurt much ?” asked Laura. 

“Not much, I think. I fear sister Frances is hurt 
much worse than I am.” 

The nun was considerably bruised, but no bones 
were broken. Clifford was left to get a carriage and 
send her back to the convent, as she declared that, 


from error’s chains. 


381 


after resting for a time, she could easily stand the ride 
back to the house of the Sacred Heart. Julia kissed her 
and bade her good - bye, thanking her for her kindness 
and begging her to assure the Abbess that she was in 
the hands of friends and would not at once return to 
her home. She then , took Laura’s arm and walked 
slowly into the sweet restful home of her aunt, whose 
heart was made to overflow with joy in receiving the 
loved and lost all safe once more. Julia was soon rest- 
ing so peacefully, so quietly in the great arm-chair, 
feasting her eyes upon the loving, kindly features of her 
aunt, too glad, too happy, “to say a word,” as she ex- 
pressed it. Rome was foiled and Julia Ashton was free 
once more. 

As soon as Clifford had sent the nun back to the 
convent the wires flashed the glad news of Julia’s 
escape to her distant home in the mountain city, and 
filled Ashton Hall with light and gladness once more. 

“But,” said Julia, after a long recital of the circum- 
stances of her abduction and confinement in the con- 
vent, almost within a stone’s throw of her aunt, and 
her friend, Laura, “I come to you without a penny. I 
went into that hated place with a princely fortune, but 
am cast here, dear aunt, upon your kind ministrations 
without a farthing of my own.” 

“My home, dearest,” said her aunt, “is yours as 
long as you will share it. But how is it, dear, that 
you are now penniless ? 

The circumstances of the transfer of her property, 
as the reader knows them, were narrated by Julia. 

“More hypocritical meanness !” ejaculated Laura, 
and, donning her hat and gloves, she almost flew to 
the telegraph office and sent off this brief messag : 

“Messers Norman and Mortimer Come by first 


382 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


train on important business; ” salving to herself as she 
left the office: “Rome may vet be foiled in this piece of 
diabolism.” 

When the message was delivered the city could 
scarcely hold Will Mortimer, as he had heard through 
Clifford’s telegram of Julia’s appearance and the time 
for that “first train” to leave seemed to “go on 
crutches,” and seemed determined never to come. And 
when the train did leave, bearing several warm friends 
of the lost young lady, namely, Mr. Ashton, the devo- 
ted pastor, Judge Norman and Will Mortimer, the 
young lawyer thought that steam could not move fast 
enogh for business so important. 

“The Lord be praised !” exclaimed the dear old saint 
as he pressed to his bosom his beloved nioce, the tears 
of joy streaming down his worn cheeks. “Surely good- 
ness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. 
God bless you, my child.” 

“Well, well, Miss Julia,” said the Judge, “I am real 
glad to see you. It really seemed to us all that you 
had been spirited away from this mundane sphere, so 
completely were all traces of your departure removed. 
But here you are, safe and sound, and still in the flesh.” 

The tears of joy flowed from her eyes as she received 
the hearty greetings and congratulations of her friends, 
but she was soon exhausted. The strain of the past 
few days on both mind and body being relieved, she 
was so weak and weary that she could only sit 
. pillowed in a large chair and joyfully look from one to 
another of her loved ones and wonder if it were all a 
reality, or only a delightful dream to be disappointed 
by the awaking to some more terrible reality. 

The facts of her abduction, imprisonment, experi- 
ences in the convent, and strange escape, soon became 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


383 


the possession of all her friends, as the reader has them; 
and when the circumstances of the robbery of her for- 
tune came out, and the manner in which it was effected, 
a certain young lawyer present looked as though he 
would be willing to “fight his weight in wild cats,” in 
her behalf, as Judge Norman expressed it. 

“And this by the leaders of the mother Church!” 
exclaifned Laura Chatfield. “This by those who claim 
to be the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus ! If 
this is religion, from all such may the good Lord ever 
deliver me.” 

“Laura, my child,” said the Judge, “you know 
better than that. You know we are the orthodox and 
Rome is an apostate organization.” 

“If the court please, I know also,” replied Laura, 
that these same Catholics claim to be the Church, the 
orthodox, and that all others are miserable heretics, 
sure of the fires of hell. Didn’t the\ T call my sweet little 
friend here an ‘incorrigible little heretic’ ? Did not the 
Catholic bishop of Charleston say some years ago, 
‘Within thirty years, the Protestant heresy will come 
to an end’? You say the Catholics are heretics, and 
the Catholics say you are heretics. Whom am I to 
believe? I still adhere to mv simple, common -sense 
creed, which you know gives me immense satisfaction 
and joy, ‘Let us eat and drink and have a good time, 
for tomorrow we die.’ ” 

“Yes, and go to perdition as soon as you die,” said 
the Judge. 

“Just see there now,” exclaimed the young lady, 
“didn’t I tell you you were as intolerant as Rome? 
Because I don’t fall in with the religious fancies of my 
dear uncle, he intimates that I too am a miserable 
heretic, and on a race to the fires of perdition. Come 


384 


FROM ERROR’S CHAIN" 


now, wouldn’t you be willing to persecute with pains 
and penalties if your section of Christianity held the 
reins of government ? Is it not true that in all the past 
which ever sect happened to be on ‘the top of the pot’ 
persecuted and imprisoned and killed all the others 
who had the temerity to differ from them ? Would not 
my good uncle delight now to turn the thumb -screws 
on ‘father’ McLemore, and all who took any part in 
the abduction and imprisonment of our sweet little 
friend here ?” 

“Laura, do hush you tom -foolery,” said the Judge. 
“You know I would not persecute anybod}^ on account 
of their religion. I have before told Dr. Prescott here 
that the days of all that tom-fooler}' have passed. 
Moreover, my ‘section of Christianity’ has been ‘on the 
tap of the pot,’ as you say, and has never dishonored 
the name of our Savior by interfering with anyone else 
on account of his religion. Am I not right, my dear 
sir,” addressing the pastor. 

“You are quite right, Judge,” [replied Dr. Prescott. 

“Then, if the court please,” said Laura, “if you are 
unwilling] to persecute , I trust you and this handsome 
young partner of yours will vigorously prosecute cer- 
tain dignitaries of the ‘ Holy Mother Church' for the 
recovery of my sweet friend’s property.” 

The following brief note was picked up by Clifford 
Burton where Julia and the nun were thrown from 
the carriage, and is self explanatory, indicating the pur- 
pose of the Catholics with reference to Julia Ashton: 

“Holy Father: — In keeping with our plans, sis- 
ter Frances accompanies Miss Ashton to the depot and 
will also make the trip with you to Jersey City, where 
no doubt our ‘little sister’ will be beyond the reach of 
prying eyes. — A dress. ’ ’ 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


385 


The attentions and kind ministrations of friends to 
Julia were unavailing in restoring her to her wonted 
health. Like a sick child she longed for the breath of 
her home in the mountain city, dear old Ashton Hall, 
but she daily grew thinner and frailer, and was too 
weak for the journey. 

The days pass wearily and it is early autumn 
again. There is no improvement in the health of the 
invalid girl, and, to their horror, her friends become 
eoncious that her mind is beginning to totter on its 
throne. What a close sympathy there is between mind 
and body. The enfeebled body and long unrest of soul 
are making serious inroads upon the suffering sympa- 
thetic mind. Numerous actions begin to indicate the 
dethronement of reasdn, and a constant vigil over her 
movements becomes necessary. At length it becomes 
painfully evident that she must be placed in an insane 
asylum, for treatment by a specialist. 

Now indeed the cup of sorrow pressed to the lips of 
her devoted uncle seems running over. He returned to 
his saddened home twice bereft of his darling. But his 
faith failed not. Though he became daily less robust, 
yet the flame of piety and devotion to his Lord burned 
ever more brightly. His locks were as white as the 
driven snow; his step was hesitating and feeble. 
Although the outward man was perishing day by day, 
the inward man was daily being renewed. To his 
friends he would say lovingly and reverently: “Though 
he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’’ 

The months drag themselves wearily by. “Time 
rolls his ceaseless course.” Ever and anon reports come 
of the slow improvement of the health of the loved one. 
After long and anxious waiting, there comes a message 
from the physician that, with regained physical health, 


386 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS 


there is some mental improvement. Still later, Julia is 
so far restored as to write herself to her beloved uncle, 
and keep him regularly informed of her improvement. 
Her many amiable qualities render her a general favor- 
ite in the asylum, and the sweet music she makes in the 
parlor of the gloomy building, like the soothing strains 
of David’s harp, temporarily banishes many an evil 
spirit of insanity, and beguiles many a weary hour. 

During her stay in the asylum one of the inmates, a 
sweet young girl to whom Julia was lovingly attached, 
after a brief illness, passed away into the unseen world. 
As the cold clay lies, robed and coffined for burial, Julia 
writes this beautiful poem in her memory : 

“OUT OK THE SHADOW. 

• 

“Out of the shadow, into the light 1 

Freed from earth’s sorrow, mildew and blight, 

‘Severed the silver cord, broken the bowl;’ 

Rest to the weary frame, peace to the soul ! 

* 

“Darkened that soul in its sojourn below, 

Wild and chaotic the mind’s ebb and flow. 

In vague, dreary, solitude, dwelling alone, 

Severed from life’s warm ties, shut out from home. 

“Reft now the heavy cloud, lifted the pall 

That shrouded the soul in its dark dismal thrall;— 

Flutt’ring on pinions white, trying its skill, 

Ranging in realms of bliss, here— there— at will. 

■* I 

“Gently and calmly the soul passed away, 

With scarce outward sign of the last mortal fray; 

Folded the hands on the still marble breast, 

Done with life’s throbbing, forever at rest. 

“Lay a pure flow’ret there, let its sweet breath 
Soften the dark, cold, exterior of death, 

Nestle geraniums there, thinking meanwhile 
Of the mother heart, parted by many a mile. 

“Turn the sod lightly in some quiet glade, 

Lower the casket in silence and shade; 

Soon will the Autumn her offering bring, 

O’er the still resting place, bright cov’ring fling. 

“Out of the shadow, into the light ! 

Basking in mansions of glory so bright, 


387 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS.* 

Threading the pearly gates close by the sea/ 

Sharing the heritage, rich, full and free.” 

The improvement of Julia both physically and 
mentally, from time to time, though not as rapid as 
they could wish, was nevertheless steady and most 
gratifying to her friends. With the return of robust 
health, and, with the mind entirely at rest, there was a 
corresponding enthronement of reason, and sufficient 
ground given her friends for the hope of her entire res- 
toration. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


388 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

LIGHT AND TRUTH AT LAST. 


"Confusion heard his voice and wild Uproar 
Stood ruled, stood vast Infinitude confined; 

Till at his second bidding. Darkness fled, 

Light shone, and order from disorder sprung.” 

— Paradise Lost, Book ITT; Line 710. 

In the early springtime of the following year Julia 
Ashton was so far restored that it was regarded 
entirely safe for her to return homb. In the joyful 
meeting in Ashton Hall with the beloved uncle, the 
dear old man said : “I receive you again, my dear, as it 
were, from the dead. Twice you have been lost to me, 
and the dear Lord has been so kind and merciful to me, 
and restored you to me this second time. Blessed be 
his holy name.” 

Laura Chatfield is visiting Judge Norman. Clifford 
Burton has recently been led into the light and has 
m ade a joyful surrender of his heart to the Lord Jesus 
Christ and publicly renounced his moralistic profes- 
sions. His employment is now in the mountain city 
and he is a zealous Christian worker. There is no 
delight to him so great as the luxury of doing good to 
someone in the Master’s name. Pie is a frequent visitor 
at Judge Norman’s and his whole soul is enlisted in 
behalf of his skeptical friend, Laura Chatfield. But to 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


389 


all ol his efforts she seems thoroughly impervious. 
Judge Norman and his wife, much to the grief of his 
pastor and religious friends, will persist in having in 
their beautiful home “progressive euchre” parties, fash- 
ionable balls, and the sparkling wine usually flowed on 
such occasions. At one of these entertainments there 
came an awakening to Clifford Burton. As he saw 
Laura in the mazes of the dance with one of the voung 
men of his acquaintance as her partner, the great truth 
flashed upon his consciousness that there was in his 
heart more than a religious interest in the salva- 
tion of the vivacious girl. He would not admit it for 
the time, but persuaded himself that it was a mere pas- 
sing fancy which would soon be dissipated by other 
cares. But it filled him with unrest. He walked out 
upon the veranda, and welcomed the cooling breath of 
the night wind upon his burning brow. Long he 
remained there in his reveries, wondering how his Lord 
would regard his love for one who spoke so lightly of 
his name and his cause. He concluded it would be sac- 
rilegious to even entertain any such thought. But the 
more he resolved to crush out such a feeling the more 
he realized that her image was indelibly photographed 
upon his heart. “0, God, what shall I do ?” he silently 
prayed. “I must quit this place forever, or I will bring 
reproach upon my Christian profession. But why 
should my affections have so laid hold of this bright 
girl ? It has not been any volition of mine. I simply 
could not help it. After all, may there not be something 
of real beauty which our Lord might develop in her 
character, in which I might be instrumental through 
the power of sanctified human affection?” So he 
mused, but was unable to solve the problem. 

“Here I find my recluse friend, indulging doubtless 


390 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS- 

in the ‘reveries of a bachelor, ’ ” and he was startled to 
find Laura at his side. “ I have been wondering where 
you were all this time. Come, we wish your par- 
ticipation in a game which is entirely innocent, and 
which would doubtless pass under the most searching 
scrutiny of the most ‘ straitest # se6l ’ of vour straight - 
laced fraternity. ” 

“I thank you, Laura, for even any kind thought- 
fulness which would make my absence from your bright 
circle noticed, but just now I am not fit to participate 
in your pleasures. ” 

“ I hope you are not sick, Clifford, ” she said in real 
concern, and with a tenderness in her tones which 
caused the blood to mount to his temples again. 

“No, Laura, I am not exadtly sick, but there is 
something which is tonight lying heavily upon my 
^ heart. ’’ 

“Do tell me what it is, Clifford. You know that, 
while I am light and gav and heartless, I am one of 
your best friends. I will comfort you if I can. I will 
excuse myself and we will sit here awhile under these 
clusters of wistaria,’’ and begging her friends to give 
her a short leave of absence, she was soon beside Clif- 
ford on a rustic seat, to whom she said : “ Now, my 
young gent, tell your friend what perplexes you, and 
you will at least find a sympathetic auditor. ” 

“Laura, I do not think that it would be right to 
communicate my state of mind to you. It might 
cast a shadow over your buoyant spirits. ’’ 

“ Out with it, Clifford. No matter what it may be. 
If it troubles you I want to know it. ” 

He could see, as the moonbeams fell upon her face 
that she was flushed with eager interest, and he 
thought she had never seemed so fascinating and beau- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


391 


tiful. He said tremulously, looking into the depths of 
her eyes : 

“Well, Laura, listen to me. I love you. I love 
you with all my heart. I have loved you long but I 
never fully realized it until tonight. ” 

“You love me, Clifford! You, one of the Lord’s 
chosen, love Laura Chatfield. Are you sure of this, 
Clifford?” 

“Yes, Laura, I am perfectly sure of it. You know 
the integrity of my soul, and you know I would not 
say this to you if I did not feel it in every fibre of my 
being,” he said passionately, as he took one of her 
hands in his. 

“And this is what gives you trouble, Clifford, ” she 
said, as a tremor of emotion passed through her frame. 

“ I love you, Laura, ” he repeated. 

“But, Clifford, I am a hollow-hearted skeptic and 
you are a man of God. How could there be any con- 
geniality between us ? ” 

“I thought of that, dearest, and it filled me with 
perplexity. I could not, I cannot solve the problem. 
But I know that involuntarily every power of my 
being is enlisted in an overwhelming love for you. In 
that alone I could rest. ” 

“Well, Clifford, ifyou had not been as blind as a bat 
you would have seen long ago that Laura Chatfield, 
with all her delinquencies, loved you as her ‘bright par- 
ticular star,’ ” and resting her head upon his shoulder, 
she looked up into his eyes, and whispered, “ Have you 
found such sympathy and comfort as you expected 
from your harum-scarum confessor, Clifford ? ” 

“Infinitely more, and infinitely sweeter than I de- 
serve or had a right to expect, dearest.” 

Her friend, Julia Ashton, soon read between the 


392 FROM error’s chains. . 

lines and understood the relations existing between her 
cousin find her friend Laura. As for Clifford, he seemed 
to walk upon air as the weeks passed, and his daily 
prayer was that his beloved might be led into the light 
of Christian truth, and he firmly believed she would be 
thus led out of the darkness. 

On a bright, balmy spring morning, one of those 
saddest of all sad things to which fallen humanity is in- 
cident, occurred in a secluded spot just outside the lim- 
its of the city. A hardened criminal was executed for 
the atrocious crime of murdering his wife. The execu- 
tion was public and a large crowd assembled to wit- 
ness the horrible scene. Of course a large number of 
those who assembled were “of the baser sort.” The 
drinking shops of the city were all open, plying their 
nefarious business of pandering to the lowest and most 
vicious appetites of man. Truly has one exclaimed: 
“ 0 thou invisible spirit of wine ! If thou hast no name 
to be known by, let us call thee devil, 1 ” and again : “ 0 
that men should put an enemy into their mouths to 
steal away their brains! that we should with joy, 
pleasure, revel and applause, transform ourselves into 
beasts! 2 ” Strong drink, that “sum of all villanies, ” 
was accessible on this day, and many, who were so in- 
clined, imbibed freely of the fiery beverages. A wild, 
reckless youth, seventeen years of age, with his brain 
fired and maddened by whiskey, was creating much 
disorder on the streets. Will Mortimer had been re- 
quested to act as deputy marshal for the day. In this 
capacity he was endeavoring to arrest the disorderly 
young man. The drink -crazed youth instantly drew a 
revolver from his pocket and sent a ball crashing 

1 Othello, Act ll, Scene 3. *> Ibid. 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


393 


through the breast of this noble young Christian 
lawyer, and lay bleeding upon the pavement, a victim 
to the fiery demon, of which it is often said, “If you 
will let whiskey alone, it will let you alone, ” than 
which, as every observant man knows, there is nothing 
more false. As this youthful, would-be murderer, and 
his accomplices in this awful crime, lay in their prison 
cells, awaiting trial; as the court proceeds with the 
trial ; as all the expenses of the officers and witnesses 
are summed up ; and as all the sorrow connected with 
such crimes is taken into account; can it be said that 
whiskey will let anybody alone, if its sale is toler- 
ated ? 

A gifted young lady, whose heart had been crushed 
by this awful demon of strong drink, in her father’s 
shame and ruin, thus sums up her righteous detesta- 
tion of the tolerated curse : 

“Go see, and lietr, and feel and know, 

All that my soul hath felt and known; 

Then look upon the wine-cup’s glow; 

Ask if its beauty can atone— 

See if its flavor you can try, 

When all proclaim -’tis drink and die. 

“Tell me I hate the bowl— 

‘Hate’ is a feeble word; 

I loathe— abhor— my very soul 
With strong disgust is stirred, 

When e’er I see, or hear, or tell 
Of this dark beverage of hell. 

Truly has Shakespeare characterized this invisible 
spirit of wine as devil ; as an enemy which men put in 
their mouths to steal away their brains. 

What, alas, shall be said of these public executions 
of criminals? If this murderer had been executed pri- 
vately it is probable, yea, almost certain, that Will 
Mortimer would not have fallen bleeding before that 
murderous pistol. The large crowd would not have 


394 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


gathered, and the young man who madly shot the rep- 
resentative of the law, would not have been brought 
into this easy contact with the maddening drink. It is 
in the highest degree probable that these sad results 
would not have accompanied a private execution. 
Besides, the true view of capital punishment is that it 
is designed not so much to prevent crime as to punish 
criminals. If it is designed primarily to prevent crime, 
it is a failure, for instead of having a tendency to pre- 
vent crime it is exceedingly demoralizing, as the circum- 
stances of this execution prove. If it is designed 
chiefly to punish criminals, then surely it should be exe- 
cuted privately. 

Moreover, the ministers of the gospel of Christ 
should be exceedingly careful as to what they say con- 
cerning the future of those who publicly pay the ex- 
treme penalty of the law. The shameless utterances of 
priest McLemore, in declaring to the vast crowd that 
this murderer of his wife had received the sacraments 
of the “Holy Church,” and by the intercession of the 
blessed Virgin, and the holy Apostles, would go 
straight to glory, furnished the occasion for a leading 
journal to make a fling at all religion and all ministers 
of the Gospel. In commenting on this execution, the 
editor strongly advocated private executions, and, 
among other things, said: “Then would ministers 
cease to populate heaven with the vilest criminals,” 
This utterance of priest McLemore and the testimony 
of Dr. Prescott as to the penitence and salvation of 
Ralph Norton in a felon’s cell on a dying couch led 
Laura Chatfield to say : 

“If the God worshipped by you Christians de- 
lights to carry to heaven such characters as the shame- 
lessly criminal Ralph Norton, and this hardened uxor- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


395 


cide, whom 4 holy father ’ McLemore intimated was 
jerked to glory by the hangman’s noose, then he puts a 
premium on crime and makes heaven an unattractive 
habitation for decent people. ” 

But it must be remembered that Miss Chatfield 
was decidedly skeptical and failed to take into account 
all the facts, as the devout Christian apprehends them; 
not the sacramental view of the Church of Rome of 
sacraments imparting grace. Moreover, she sought in 
such things a subterfuge from the accusations of con- 
science, which, despite her protestations of supreme 
satisfaction with her short creed of “ having a jolly 
time,” would often fill her with unconquerable appre- 
hension. 

The lamp of life in the bright young lawyer was 
not utterly extinguished. During the lapse of six long 
weary months he was nursed back into life, through 
the kind ministrations of the skillful physicians, and 
Judge .Norman’s excellent wife. In his days of return- 
ing health and convalescence Julia’s bright cheery pres- 
ence often illuminated his room. To his inexpressible 
joy he had the clearest possible evidence of the supreme 
sway in her soul of a new and great love. Though she 
mentioned it not, the perfect rest of her soul in Jesus 
and her exceeding great joy in her new found hope 
beamed from her ever expressive eyes, the very win- 
dows of her soul, played upon her features, and re- 
vealed itself in every adtion. 

It is October. The forests present a panorama of 
beauty. The leaves of the autumnal bowers are 
painted in nature’s richest and brightest hues, and all 
Nature, on this bright autumnal afternoon, is a ‘‘blaze 


896 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


of glory. ” Will Mortimer and Julia Ashtdn are again 
seated upon the gray rocks, on the margin of the leap- 
ing, plunging river. There, on either bank, “stands the 
forest primeval. ” There, over the same dizzy height 
of rock, rush the waters of the river, uttering their 
same hoar.se, hollow voices. There, rise, as ever before, 
the mists from the same roaring cataract. But the 
wild tumult in the soul of Julia Ashton has been stilled. 
The divine Christ has spoken, as he spake to the wild 
waves on the Sea of Galilee, the omnipotent words: 
“Peace! be still,” and, in obedience to his word, 
“hushed was the bursting war, and the lowering tem- 
pest frowned its rage away. ” Her soul, like the 
calmed sea, was resting as quietly as a babe sleeping 
upon its mother’s bosom. 

“Tell me all about it, dearest,” said Will, as they 
sat together upon the gray old rocks. 

“My new found joy, you mean. Well, there is 
nothing strange or wonderful to tell. It was the simp- 
lest, easiest, plainest thing in the world. I sat in the 
old church, weary and heart -sick, as usual, one Sab- 
bath evening, when Dr. Prescott, dear good man, 
announced as his text, Rev. 3 : 20, ‘ Behold, I stand at 
the door, and knock ; if any man hear my voice and 
open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he 
with me. ’ I do not now remember one -third of what 
the good man said ; I only remember the vivid picture 
of love he presented of the ever compassionate, knock- 
ing Savior, and I realized, as never before, his presence 
at the door of my heart. I was willing, oh, so willing, 
to open my heart and have the Lord come in. Such an 
overwhelming sense of rest and peace stole gently into 
my soul as I had never known before. I did not feel 
like rejoicing. I simply experienced the sweetest calm- 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


397 


ness and rest of soul I had ever known, and knew I 
loved my Lord, and that he loved me, and had spoken 
peace to my soul. That is all, Will. Sometimes since I 
have been afraid I was mistaken ; sometimes I have 
been almost in despair; but then when I remember that 
I did truly and sincerely desire to open my heart to the 
Lord, the same restfulness of soul would return to me 
and I would be so happy again. I am simply resting 
upon Jesus’ love and trusting entirely in his words to 
me. Some days passed before I could persuade my- 
self that this was indeed religion, but, at last, our dear 
pastor gave the Scriptural marks of a Christian. I 
went tremblingly up and gave him my hand and was 
received into the church, and in a few days was buried 
with Christ in baptism. ” 

Pausing a moment to gain control of her emotion 
and brush away the gathering tears, she continued : 

“Oh, Will, never shall I forget the joy of dear old 
uncle. When I was received into the church, he arose 
from his seat, his locks as white as the driven snow, 
the tears streaming down his time-worn cheeks, his 
whole face glowing with happiness, and said, as if in 
converse with God himself, ‘Lord, now lettest thou thy 
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy 
salvation. ” 

She ceased speaking and the tears of joy were again 
streaming down her own rosy cheeks, and, forgetting 
herself, her brown tresses rested upon Will’s shoulder, 
as she thought only of her great joy. Suddenly remem- 
bering herself, she started up and moved further from 
her companion, saying: 

“Excuse me, Will. As once before, at this same 
place, I was scarcely myself, so here again, because of 
entirely opposite feelings, I am not myself now. But I 


398 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


trust you as my truest friend, even a beloved brother, 
as you have proved yourself to be. ” 

Taking her hand in his, Will managed to say : 

“ May it not be, dearest, more than as a friend or 
a brother that you trust me? You have known all 
these months and years of my affection for you. It in- 
creases with the flight of time, and I now feel that you 
are essential to my happiness. ” 

“Suppose, Will, that sickness should come again, 
or that my mind should again become impaired ; do 
you think it would be right, in view of such possibili- 
ties, to burden yourself with a wife?” she asked, not 
withdrawing her hand. 

“I would esteem it my greatest happiness to love 
you and make your pathway in life as pleasant as I 
can. Only consent to allow me the joy of doing so.” 

“ Your wish is my pleasure, ” she said tremulously, 
and his cup of joy was full. 

We look in upon Ashton Hall once more. It is 
bleak December. Christmas tide is close at hand. The 
elegant parlor is brilliantly lighted, a glowing fire in 
the old-fashioned fire-place upon the great brazen 
andirons imparts its genial warmth ; the carpets and 
rugs seem brighter; even the fine old paintings are 
more radiant than is their wont. The very room seems 
beaming with cheerfulness. A group of some of the ex- 
cellent people of the city have gathered there, and all 
seem to be in their merriest mood. All is hushed and 
Will Mortimer enters, with Julia Ashton, radiant and 
beautiful, leaning upon his arm. In a short, but beau- 
tiful and impressive ceremony, Dr. Prescot pronounces 
the happy words which unite their destinies for life. 
In the midst of their happiness, and, as many friends 


FROM ERROR’S CHAINS. 


399 


are extending their congratulations, we take our leave 
of Will Mortimer and his bonny bride. 

It may be of interest to the reader of these lines to 
be informed that Messers Norman and Mortimer, after 
a long and persistent prosecution in the courts, suc- 
ceeded in recovering from the minions of Rome the for- 
tune which they so craftily sought to turn into the 
coffers of “the Church.” The Catholics appealed the 
case to the highest courts, and made a desperate fight 
for the property. It was thought at first that the case 
might easily be managed by producing the testimony 
of the young lady that undue influence had been used 
in obtaining her signature to the transfer. But this 
testimony was rebutted by any number of witnesses to 
the contrary. The plea was then made and sustained 
in all the courts that the property was transferred 
without a consideration, and hence was fraudulent and 
illegal. 

With an ample fortune, and with real beauty of 
character, based upon the everlasting foundation of 
the truths of the gospel of Christ, Will Mortimer and 
his happy Christian wife are pursuing their way in life, 
filling many of the dark places of earth with such joy 
and light as their wealth enables them to scatter, and, 
in many ways, giving the truth of God to those about 
them. 


Mr. Ashton still lives, and the beauty and sweet- 
ness of his Christian char after is a constant bene- 
diftion to his household, consisting of his beloved niece, 
and her husband. Indeed, there is constantly fulfilled 
in his life the declaration of Scripture: “The path of 
the just is as a shining light, which shineth more and 


400 


FROM ERROR S CHAINS. 


more unto the perfect da3 r . ” His cup of rejoicing is 
constant^ filled as he sees one after another of 
his beloved nieces and nephews brought into the fold 
of Christ. But the conversion of no one gave him 
greater joy than that of his beloved niece and adopted 
daughter, Julia Mortimer, whose long struggle with 
the powers of evil elicited the interest and S3^mpathy of 
a large circle of friends, all of whom greatly rejoiced 
when she was fully delivered from error’s chains. 

“Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again, 

For God’s eternal years are hers; 

While Error, wounded, writhes in pain, 

And dies amidst her worshippers.” 

















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